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By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – A traditional wedding celebration in the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) community, 24th Street, Sinkor turned into a scene of police brutality on Saturday, September 6, 2025, with the groom being beaten by officers of the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) police. According to multiple accounts, the situation began when the officers interrupted the wedding celebrations in an enforcement of newly emphasized noise pollution regulations.
The incident occurred just weeks after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia publicly disclosed stringent plans to crack down on noise pollution across the country. The new measures aim to regulate sound levels from various sources, including churches, mosques, nightclubs, and public events like weddings. Eyewitnesses at the scene, including the community Chairperson alleged that the police officers arrived and took away the equipment, claiming the celebration was in violation of the noise ordinances.
The situation reportedly escalated rapidly when those attending the traditional wedding attempted to question their decision. “The police officers were very aggressive from the start. They didn’t want to talk; they just wanted to shut everything down. When the groom, who was just trying to enjoy his special day, stepped forward to ask for an explanation, they grabbed him and started beating him,” Angie Nelton, the community Chairperson said.
She alleged that the groom was physically assaulted by the officers, resulting in visible injuries. The violent act abruptly ended the wedding reception, leaving guests and family members in a state of shock and terror. According to her, this is the fifth time that such a situation has occurred in the community. Nelton accused a resident of the community who’s also a medical doctor, of being the mastermind behind all the calls that led to the disruption of events in the community by MCC officers.
Her words: “We can’t play music here, not for our children’s graduations, not for weddings, not even for birthday celebrations. Even minute sellers can’t put their microphones on here. One Doctor from America who lives in our community, came and said we should not play loud music. We’re tired of this. Whenever we try it, he can call the Monrovia City Police. The MCC people scattered the people’s wedding yesterday. Nobody fought the City Police”.
MCC Claims Officers Were Assaulted
In a statement issued Sunday, the Monrovia City Police Administration reported that two of its officers were assaulted and injured while responding to a noise complaint in the 24th Street area on the afternoon of September 6, 2025. According to the MCC, the incident began at approximately 4:00 p.m. when police received an initial complaint from a resident regarding excessively loud music from a traditional wedding ceremony, which had been causing a disturbance for nearly four hours.
A dispatched unit allegedly made contact with the event hosts, who initially complied with the officers’ request to lower the volume. However, minutes after officers left the scene, the music volume increased again, prompting a second complaint and the dispatch of another police unit. However, the community Chairperson said this is untrue. But upon their return, the MCC says officers found the hosts unwilling to comply. Citing the Liberia Environmental Law, which grants officers the authority to confiscate equipment causing noise pollution, the police moved to impound the PA system.
The MCC says the action was met with physical resistance from multiple individuals at the event. The situation rapidly escalated into a violent altercation during which two officers were assaulted. The officers sustained minor injuries, including a laceration to the head and bruises to the arm, and had their uniforms damaged in the scuffle. They accused the event host of subsequently forcibly removing the PA system equipment from the police pickup truck.
Backup units were called to the scene and successfully dispersed the crowd and restored order. The Monrovia City Police Administration has confirmed that a comprehensive investigation into the incident has been launched and that the public will be updated upon its completion.
The EPA’s recent announcement framed noise pollution as a significant public health concern, linking excessive noise to stress, hearing loss, and sleep disturbance. The agency vowed to empower relevant authorities, including the police, to enforce decibel level limits and penalize violators.
