Steven Flood was arrested at Lindo?s supermarket at 1 p.m. on October 24 in Warwick by Det. Con. David Bhagwam, Det. Con. Jameiko Tucker and Det. Con. Warren Bundy.

Flood claimed in Supreme Court that he was interrogated in the back of the Police car by Det. Con. Bhagwam, who allegedly struck him in the ribs ?on at least five or six occasions?.

?Bhagwam asked me if I had a family,? Mr. Flood said with tears running down his face and his voice cracking with emotion.

?I responded that I did and that I had a young daughter. Bhagwam then told me that I should ?think of her? when answering his questions. I took this extremely personally ... I felt as if he was threatening her in some way.?

Flood was then taken to Belmer Drive where a search of Madeiros? house was being conducted.

Upon arrival, he claimed a ?very angry? Det. Sgt. Steven Lightbourne leant through the open window of the Police car and began shouting and accusing him of leading Police ?on a wild goose chase?.

?He reached through the window and grabbed me by the throat,? Flood said.

?I kept on pleading with him to let go and telling him that I was not lying and I did not know where the boxes were.

?He eventually let go but then Bhagwam carried on hitting me and asking me where the boxes were. I was terrified.?

The court then heard how Flood was taken to the Prospect narcotics office that afternoon where he was placed in a small photocopying room.

It was alleged that Det. Con. Bhagwam made him stand against a door with his forehead resting up against the wooden surface, before striking Flood ?forcibly? around the side of the face with a telephone book.

?I was caught completely unawares,? he said.

?I just did not expect it and suddenly my head was ringing and I felt all dizzy. I could hear a commotion on the other side of the door which sounded a bit like somebody was being beat up. I couldn?t see but I could hear the thumps and cries coming from the next room. Somebody sounded in pain.?

Flood alleged the door leading to the next room was then opened, where he caught a glimpse of Mr. Madeiros being grabbed around the neck by a Police officer.

?It was like a nightmare,? he said.

?I just could not believe this was going on. I had never been arrested in my entire life up to that point and I did not have any idea what was going on.

?They kept shouting at me to co-operate and I was definitely concerned for my safety if I did not give them what they wanted.?