Ricardo Welch, radio talk show host known as Gladiator, has written to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and National Security Minister Jack Warner complaining about "arbitrary abuse" at the hands of five police officers.

According to Welch's complaint, he was relaxing on the Brian Lara Promenade in Port of Spain with two friends around 7.10 p.m. on Tuesday when an unmarked Nissan X-Trail suddenly stopped.

Five "heavily armed" police officers exited the vehicle and approached Welch and his friends, the complaint stated.

One of the officers was more aggressive than his colleagues, Welch stated.

"In a conduct of rage and anger the said officer then arrested, assaulted and committed actual battery on my person by grabbing my left arm and pushing me and roughing-up me," Welch's complaint stated.

After being accosted by the officers and "bodily searched" in a "rough and indecent manner", Welch said he was eventually released without being informed about the reason behind his detention.

Welch, who suffers with diabetes and hypertension, said the incident had an "emotional and mental effect" on him.

He went to the Central Police Station to lodge a complaint about the action of the officers, Welch stated.

Welch said he was told that they "ran out of forms to take a report from members of the public".

Speaking to the Express on Wednesday, Welch said he was "not the kind of guy to take this matter lightly".

"I have to stand up against this unwarranted abuse of police powers by these officers, I have to send a message on behalf of all the citizens who are victims to this kind of police abuse," he said.

Welch said the trauma of the ordeal caused him to miss a People's National Movement (PNM) political meeting which was held at the San Juan Promenade, Croisee in San Juan on Tuesday night.

"While I don't want to deem the officers' actions as being politically motivated since the government is trying to rid the nation of crime, I do deem the officers' behaviour to be reprehensible and despicable as they showed a callous and shameful disregard of my fundamental rights and that I was stripped of my human dignity and consequently intend to take legal action under the name of the Attorney General including the officers who acquiesced and supported the unlawful and/or unconstitutional acts committed on my person with a view of seeking compensatory, aggravated and exemplary damages," Welch's complaint stated.

"The actions of these officers made me feel as if I was living in Syria or Afghanistan or countries where the citizens' rights and freedom are being violated and trampled upon," Welch stated.