Latest update November 23rd, 2024 12:15 AM
Dead bandits had criminal records, were going after safe – Top Cop
At least three of the five bandits killed during a shootout yesterday morning with police ranks at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, had criminal records.
Police Commissioner (Ag) David Ramnarine made this disclosure during a press conference held at Eve Leary, yesterday.
Ramnarine commended the work of the officers on patrol, who he said responded to a radio message following a 911 dispatch call at around 03:00 hours. Their swift action foiled the robbery.
According to the Commissioner, the call was made by a man, who resides at the building in the gated community with his wife, two children and a grandchild.
“They are said to be caretakers of the house which belongs to a businessman who lives in Florida, USA,” Ramnarine told the media.
He said the bandits had used an instrument to cut down a gate to gain access to the property.
That gate is located on the western fence of the MovieTowne compound. The loud crash of the gate falling is what alerted the occupants.
“From all indications, their intention was to access a safe located inside one of the houses on the premises,” the Top Cop added.
Although he could not say exactly how many ranks responded to the call, the Top Cop noted that two patrols – an anti-crime patrol in ‘C’ Division as well as a Criminal Investigations Department (CID) plainclothes patrol – went to the premises located approximately 100 feet away from the MovieTowne construction site.
Ramnarine related that when the ranks arrived, they observed two men in the yard.
“Upon seeing the ranks, the perpetrators opened fire and the police officers fired back. A third man, who was in the compound, was caught in the exchange of gunfire. Two men in a white car later approached and began to shoot at the police. The officers took cover and returned fire.”
An AK-47 rifle with two magazines which were taped together, a number of live rounds and two other rifles, a toque and cellular phones were among the items recovered at the crime scene.
The dead bandits were later identified as Timothy St. Hill, Levy Braithwaite, Adrian Daly called ‘Juice Boy’, Ian Forde and Jermaine Doobay.
St. Hill, 38, had a long criminal history. He was described by the Police Commissioner as being very instrumental in aiding the “notorious prison escapees” who broke out of the Camp Street Prison during a fire last year. He had helped the fugitives by providing them with medical supplies, food and clothing.
Ramnarine revealed too that “based on police intelligence apparatus, he (St. Hill) was planning to obtain a firearm for that group.”
The seized guns and other items recovered from the crime scene.
In addition to that, in 2015, St Hill was charged with unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition; in 2016 with possession of narcotics; in 2017 with attempted robbery and break and enter and larceny, and in 2018 with setting fire to the Diamond/Grove Police Station.
In 2017, Braithwaite, 31, of North Ruimveldt, was charged with robbery under arms while Daly, 40, of Westminster, was charged with break and enter and larceny.
However in relation to Forde and Doobay, the Police Commissioner said no criminal records have been found. Police investigators nonetheless are still running further background checks on them.
Police ranks on the scene managed to recover an ID card, tax Certificate of Registration and NIS card for Forde.
Ramnarine noted that investigations will be conducted by Office of Professional Responsibility,(OPR) to ensure that the ranks followed the necessary protocol during their confrontation with the gunmen.
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