Monrovia-The Liberia National Police (LNP) Professional Standard Division, has finally launched an official investigation into the alleged brutal assault of an Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) personnel, Corporal David N. Watson, reportedly carried out by a member of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU), Homer Decee, a community member, Joe Zarkpah and two alleged accomplices.
By Willie N. Tokpah
The investigation comes nearly three weeks after the violent incident rocked the Palm Springs Community in Lower Careysburg, leaving residents fearful and demanding justice.
Despite the delay, police sources have confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that an internal probe has commenced, but key suspects remain at large, and troubling signs of a possible cover-up are already beginning to surface.
One Officer Questioned, Main Suspect Still Free
According to high-ranking sources within the LNP, the Professional Standards Division, working in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Liberia, has begun interviewing those implicated in the assault.
Officer Homer Decee, a member of the ERU also one of the accused, was recently invited to appear before investigators.
However, the main suspect, Joe Zarkpah, remains at large and has not yet been arrested, despite repeated calls from the community and pressure from within the security sector.
An investigator who spoke with FrontPageAfrica under condition of anonymity disclosed that Officer Decee’s account of the incident has been riddled with contradictions.
Initially denying involvement, Decee later claimed that Corporal Watson attempted to attack both him and Joe Zarkpah at the same time, even though Watson sustained a disjointed hand and serious bodily injuries.
Investigators noted that Decee showed no signs of injuries, nor could he produce any medical report to support his claim of self-defence.
Incident Timeline: From Intervention to Assault
The background to this case paints a picture of retaliation, not self-defence.
On the night of September 3, Corporal David Watson reportedly intervened in an incident involving an ERU officer and others assaulting a private security guard in the Palm Springs Community.
Witnesses say Watson’s calm but firm actions prevented what could have escalated into a more serious altercation.
That intervention, however, did not sit well with Officer Decee, who allegedly returned to the community hours later accompanied by Joe Zarkpah, a man widely feared in the area, and another unidentified individual.
At the time of the confrontation, Corporal Watson was walking back into the community after purchasing a solar light.
“Decee said, ‘Here’s the man who stopped us from beating that guy.’ Then they jumped on him,” said one eyewitness. “They beat him badly, hitting his chest and forcing him to the ground. He tried to escape, but they kept attacking until residents rushed in.”
Another witness, equally shaken, recalled Decee’s chilling words during the assault: “You are AFL, but no one can do anything to me.”
Such statements have inflamed tensions between security institutions and citizens, raising serious questions about discipline, accountability, and impunity among armed forces personnel.
Of particular concern to Palm Springs residents is the involvement of Joe Zarkpah, a man long allegedly accused of nighttime terror tactics and unchecked intimidation in the community.
Often seen parading himself as a “watch team head,” Zarkpah has allegedly used his position to threaten, beat, and harass locals, frequently invoking his ties to police officers as a shield against accountability.
“This is not the first time Joe Zarkpah has put his hands on someone,” said a local youth. “He brags that no one can touch him because his brother is in the police.”
Several residents told FrontPageAfrica that Zarkpah has openly boasted that the case will go nowhere, citing family connections within the Liberia National Police. One community elder put it bluntly:
“If this is allowed to pass, then what’s the purpose of law and order? How can a soldier, trained to serve and protect, be beaten like a criminal, and the attackers laugh about it in front of us?”
A Soldier in Pain, Institutions Silent
Corporal Watson is still undergoing treatment at the 14 Military Hospital for injuries sustained in the attack, including a dislocated hand now placed in a medical cap and severe chest trauma.
He has declined to speak to the press, instead referring inquiries to the AFL Communication Office.
Despite the seriousness of the incident and growing public anger, neither the Armed Forces of Liberia nor the Liberia National Police has issued a formal statement.
The silence from both institutions has fueled speculation of an attempted institutional cover-up or a bid to quietly bury the investigation.
As of September 22, only one of the alleged attackers, Officer Homer Decee, has faced questioning.
Joe Zarkpah remains at large, unbothered, and reportedly moving freely within the community.
Community Outcry and National Appeal
The people of Palm Springs are now demanding swift, transparent, and uncompromised justice.
“We want the Ministry of National Defense, the Liberia National Police, and President Joseph Boakai to step in. This is not just about Watson. This is about all of us,” said one community elder.
Military sympathizers, veterans, and ordinary citizens alike have expressed concern that if such acts of brutality and arrogance go unpunished, Liberia’s already fragile trust in its security sector will collapse.
A System at Stake
The brutalization of Corporal Watson by men allegedly serving under the state’s security banner is more than just an assault, it is a potential tipping point in the public’s confidence in national institutions.
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