Ok, I am writing this thread because I have truly had the night from hell!! For the record I love living here and this post is not meant to discourage anyone from visiting. I think this information may be useful to any of those people who live here, and hope you don?t ever have this happen.
I have a good friend here who I have known for years. A totally platonic friendship, he is a very good person, he is honest and loyal, works hard, has his own car, and comes from a good family. The same things I would look for in a friend in my country of origin.
Today was his 25th birthday so all of his family and friends gathered to celebrate at his house. The night started off very nice. Later this evening we went to the disco in Sosua. Now I should mention my aunt is in town so I have a car rental. My friend?s 21 year old brother also a good friend was the designated driver.
When we were in the disco my friends younger brother said he was going over to the other disco (walking distance from the disco) to see if it was busy. I didn?t realize at this time he still had my keys.
When my roommate said she was going home I realized I didn?t have my keys. I said to my friend "let?s go to the other disco to get my key from your brother". When we left we noticed my car was not parked out front, it was gone.
My friend also had his car so we went to the car and called his brothers cell phone. He had gone cruising around with 3 of his friends and the Policia Nacional pulled him over. They asked for their I.D. and after they showed it they took them to the jail. FOR ABSOLUTLY NO REASON. My friend?s brother is not a bad kid.
Well when we called they hadn?t taken his things so he had his cell phone and told us where he was. We immediately went to the police station. What happened when I got there is what I couldn?t believe. These police were ruthless. They had like 15 girls and 15 guys, all kids I see around picked up for no reason. I heard one girl on her cell calling for help saying if she paid 7000RD they would let her out.
I was very upset, they took my car. The stripped my friend?s brother and his friends of his shoes right in front of us. They were treating the people waiting to go in jail like garbage.
My friend handled the situation like a man. I was freaking out and somehow in the 1st 5 minutes we were there he got my car keys from his brother. When they took his brother away we called his father and a lawyer who came right away. No dought they are still in the Police Station now.
Anyway some big scuffle happened and 2 of the cops were arguing and almost had a fight over something which at this point we were at the back of the parking lot by the car. My friend took my key, jumped in my car and drove away and none of them noticed a thing. Then he drove me home safe and sound with my car.
His brother and 2 friends are still in jail. His father and the lawyer will be out there all night, and he had a really lousy birthday. I said to his father that had he not taken my car out joy riding without permission nothing would have happened. He wasn?t surprised and said this is something they do and it doesn?t matter who you are when they do these little sweeps.
It is absolutely true. I saw not only Dominicans being brought in there. I also saw other people of different races. In the 2 hours I was there I saw car loads of people being brought in one after another for reasons like not having I.D. or not have there original ownership in their car - PUT IN JAIL FOR THESE REASONS!!! They wait on the road in front of the station and Playero and stop every single car.
I am disgusted because if you look at this from the tourism perspective I have been living here 3 months and my aunt is here on vacation staying in a resort, we rent a car and a friend borrows it. I can?t believe when I went to the police and explained it they took him to jail and tried to keep the rental.
I want to write a letter to the tourism minister about what happened because I am sure these police could put their time, and resources to better use then harassing people in a tourism area to such extremes.
I would appreciate any information anyone who lives here might have on this situation.
Toronto Blonde
I have a good friend here who I have known for years. A totally platonic friendship, he is a very good person, he is honest and loyal, works hard, has his own car, and comes from a good family. The same things I would look for in a friend in my country of origin.
Today was his 25th birthday so all of his family and friends gathered to celebrate at his house. The night started off very nice. Later this evening we went to the disco in Sosua. Now I should mention my aunt is in town so I have a car rental. My friend?s 21 year old brother also a good friend was the designated driver.
When we were in the disco my friends younger brother said he was going over to the other disco (walking distance from the disco) to see if it was busy. I didn?t realize at this time he still had my keys.
When my roommate said she was going home I realized I didn?t have my keys. I said to my friend "let?s go to the other disco to get my key from your brother". When we left we noticed my car was not parked out front, it was gone.
My friend also had his car so we went to the car and called his brothers cell phone. He had gone cruising around with 3 of his friends and the Policia Nacional pulled him over. They asked for their I.D. and after they showed it they took them to the jail. FOR ABSOLUTLY NO REASON. My friend?s brother is not a bad kid.
Well when we called they hadn?t taken his things so he had his cell phone and told us where he was. We immediately went to the police station. What happened when I got there is what I couldn?t believe. These police were ruthless. They had like 15 girls and 15 guys, all kids I see around picked up for no reason. I heard one girl on her cell calling for help saying if she paid 7000RD they would let her out.
I was very upset, they took my car. The stripped my friend?s brother and his friends of his shoes right in front of us. They were treating the people waiting to go in jail like garbage.
My friend handled the situation like a man. I was freaking out and somehow in the 1st 5 minutes we were there he got my car keys from his brother. When they took his brother away we called his father and a lawyer who came right away. No dought they are still in the Police Station now.
Anyway some big scuffle happened and 2 of the cops were arguing and almost had a fight over something which at this point we were at the back of the parking lot by the car. My friend took my key, jumped in my car and drove away and none of them noticed a thing. Then he drove me home safe and sound with my car.
His brother and 2 friends are still in jail. His father and the lawyer will be out there all night, and he had a really lousy birthday. I said to his father that had he not taken my car out joy riding without permission nothing would have happened. He wasn?t surprised and said this is something they do and it doesn?t matter who you are when they do these little sweeps.
It is absolutely true. I saw not only Dominicans being brought in there. I also saw other people of different races. In the 2 hours I was there I saw car loads of people being brought in one after another for reasons like not having I.D. or not have there original ownership in their car - PUT IN JAIL FOR THESE REASONS!!! They wait on the road in front of the station and Playero and stop every single car.
I am disgusted because if you look at this from the tourism perspective I have been living here 3 months and my aunt is here on vacation staying in a resort, we rent a car and a friend borrows it. I can?t believe when I went to the police and explained it they took him to jail and tried to keep the rental.
I want to write a letter to the tourism minister about what happened because I am sure these police could put their time, and resources to better use then harassing people in a tourism area to such extremes.
I would appreciate any information anyone who lives here might have on this situation.
Toronto Blonde