Members of the community accuse police force of corruption, violating free speech

Sergeant Minoptra, left, during an awards ceremony.
File photo

Amazon River Sun Staff 

 RIO GRANDE — On a quiet evening in July, Sergeant Sunisa Minoptra and Officer Tiny of the Amazonia Policia arrived at the Amazon River Sun offices. They claimed to be conducting a lawful search of the premises and proceeded to rummage through shelves, papers, and the Sun publisher’s wardrobe, which is known to be the envy of the jungle. 

Sidney Priestman, who the officers had “brought along” to the raid as a witness looked away from the officers’ activities the whole time.

After placing Publisher Persephone Bolero under arrest, Minoptra claimed to have “found” methamphetamine in Bolero’s backpocket. Officer Tiny also concluded that a map of the Amazon tunnels on the wall of the Bolero’s kitchen was evidence of a conspiracy to commit terrorist actions.  

“Everyone knows I would never snort hillbilly cocaine,” Bolero told the Sun. “I grew up in Beverly Hills, for Christ’s sake. I care about my health. I would only snort real cocaine.”

Bolero was subsequently taken to the Amazonia Policia headquarters, where she was fined 500 coins without trial. 

Minoptra denies that the police engaged in anything illegal or that they’ve violated anyone’s rights in the course of conducting their law enforcement duties, including the raid on the Sun offices.

“The FPN Policia Amazonica have always behaved with the utmost professionalism and integrity, working our butts off for little reward to make the Amazon a much safer place for all,” Minoptra told the Sun. “I'm incredibly proud of what my fellow officers and I have achieved in the time we've been here.”

Officer Ace Falconvale told the Sun that, since he was hired, the police force trains officers to be professional and respect suspects’ rights. Before he was hired, Falconvale said, “Sergeant [Minoptra] taught us to rob from the poor and give to the rich —- sort of a reverse Robin Hood.” 

 

Amazonia Policia float in the Carnival parade in February.

File photo

 

However, Bolero is not the only member of the jungle community who say they’ve experienced such encounters with the so-called police force. Captain Micke Avora, an resident of the southern swamps who is believed to have a military intelligence background, told the Sun that he was having a conservation with Cerise Rouge, who happens to be a reporter for the Sun, when Minoptra pulled up to the pier of his home, on the day after police ransacked the Sun offices. 

Minoptra was dressed in uniform and asserted that she was conducting a search for “suspicious objects,” according to Avora. As with her search of the Sun offices, Minoptra did not ask the Avora to conduct the search and presented no warrant or other documentation to demonstrate the search was legal.

Rouge told the Sun that she tried to make light of the situation and joked about a possibly illegal bottle of gin on the premises. Minoptra, Rouge said, did not show any indication that the humor was appreciated.

After spending some time searching the premises, Minoptra told Avora and Rouge that she had arrested Bolero the previous day. When asked why, Minoptra refused to disclose the charges or any further information on Bolero’s arrest.

She also threatened to arrest Bolero’s boyfriend, Leslie Trenton, under suspicion of smuggling drugs. Trenton is a bush pilot who transports legal items at a competitive price. He has a proven track record of safety and reliability, according to every single one of his clients.

Minoptra has warned the Sun that publishing materials police find objectionable is not protected speech under the Brazilian Constitution. This statement has yet to be confirmed due to the lack of lawyers in the region. Bolero, who has a Juris Doctor degree from Phoenix Online College, said she is pretty sure Brazil has free speech protections, including freedom of the press. 

“The constitution isn’t in English, which is very inconvenient. Nonetheless, they probably just copied the American Bill of Rights. I think most countries do,” Bolero said. 

Minoptra told Bolero that the charges against her will be pressed at a forthcoming trial, and that she should be very careful what she writes about the police force.