Cops deny beating armed robbery suspect

Nov 14, 2008 News

-after victim ends up in hospital

The injured Ryan Couchman being admitted to the GPHC

Police last night denied that they had beaten a 28-year-old man who is suspected of being involved in a multi-million dollar gold heist five months ago.

The suspect, Ryan Couchman, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital at around 20:00 hrs with injuries after being questioned by police in connection with a robbery at a Thomas Street gold establishment last June.

Couchman’s relatives alleged that the suspect told them that he was struck in the head by ranks who interrogated him at the Brickdam Police Station.

They also said that Couchman alleged that the ranks placed a plastic bag over his head in an effort to force him to confess.

He is likely to be charged with armed robbery today in connection with the Thomas Street gold robbery.
Police allege that he drove the getaway car that was involved in the robbery and that an eyewitness picked him out during an identification parade yesterday.

Kaieteur News has confirmed that Couchman is a friend of robbery suspect Leon Dundas, who was shot dead a few days ago by police in connection with the recent GuySuCo payroll heist.

The suspect’s wife also told Kaieteur News that he was arrested in the past in connection with armed robberies, but she said that he was never charged.

The spouse and other relatives said that Couchman was involved in an accident in 2002 which left him paralysed in the left arm.

They charged that the injury would have rendered him incapable of committing any robberies. Kaieteur News understands that Couchman was arrested at his home on Tuesday.

Yesterday, he was taken to the Brickdam Police Station before being taken to CID Headquarters, Eve Leary for an identification parade. According to Couchman’s wife, he was then taken back to the Brickdam Police Station.

The woman said that when she went to take his meals yesterday, some of the prisoners informed her that her spouse appeared to be ill.

She said that Couchman, who appeared to be in pain, was subsequently placed on a bench in the Enquiries Division.

She said that it was then that he alleged that he had been beaten during interrogation. She also claimed that Couchman was unable to stand.

He was eventually taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation at around 18:00 hrs and admitted under police guard.

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