Three dead, one critical after shootout with police

CONFRONTATION: Residents in confrontation with police in Arima where officers shot and killed three men yesterday. PHOTO BY ENRIQUE ASSOON
photo by enrique assoon
CONFRONTATION: Residents in confrontation with police in Arima where officers shot and killed three men yesterday. PHOTO BY ENRIQUE ASSOON photo by enrique assoon

Members of the Northern Division Task Force shot and killed three men and wounded a fourth yesterday. The men had reportedly committed a string of crimes beginning at 11 pm on Monday and ending with the home invasion and sexual assault of a woman at Dump Road, Arima.

Police said the drama began on Monday night when a 35-year-old Arima man was driving near his Dump Road home. He spotted a group of men liming in the middle of the road and blew his horn at them to disperse. When they refused, the man got out of the car to confront them and they beat him and chopped him on the right arm, then ran away.

The man drove himself to the Arima Hospital, where he was treated and the Arima Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was called. He reportedly identified one of his attackers as 26-year-old Teddy Singh, who escaped police custody in May.

Hours later at 5 am, again at Dump Road, Singh and his accomplices went to a house where they robbed and assaulted a family of three. Police said the man and his child were severely beaten and the men sexually assaulted the woman.

Neighbours heard the commotion and called members of the Northern Division Task Force who were in the area. Police went to the address and the men began shooting at them. The police shot back, hitting one of the men. The other three ran into some nearby bush.

Both the victims from the house and the suspect were taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex for treatment.

The police who were at the scene called for backup, and with colleagues led by Sgt Mascall of the Northern Division Task Force Area East and the Cumuto police, they combed forested areas along La Retreat Road for almost five hours. At around 10.30 am they were met with gunfire from the bush and shot back, hitting the three men several times and killing them all.

The bodies were removed shortly before 4 pm yesterday.

Police said they had little doubt that the men were the suspects they were pursuing from Monday night. They said the men scaled several walls and climbed over barbed wire to try and escape police, as was evident from the cuts and bruises on their wrists and legs.

When Newsday arrived yesterday, residents stood outside their homes and looked on as funeral home staff tried to remove the bodies from a densely forested area along a dirt road.

There were shouts of protests from relatives of the deceased, who complained that they were unable to see the bodies, but police said an autopsy would be done today at the Forensic Science Centre, St James. where they will be allowed to identify the men.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) McDonald Jacob visited the scene and told reporters the terrain was harsh and praised officers for their quick thinking and sharp reflexes.

Speaking with Newsday, he commended the police under his leadership for their commitment to fighting crime.

He said, “This is the third time within the last three weeks that police are being met with fire from assailants. We fully intend to bring an end to this trend we’ve been seeing and I would like to say that we are not discouraged or daunted by these incidents. In fact we are hardened by this and we intend to bring an end to it.

“I really appreciate the efforts of the men and women of the Northern Division and we are meeting the efforts of the criminals.”

Newsday spoke to Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith via WhatsApp yesterday who said while he did not celebrate anyone’s death, he was still a strong advocate of the minimum use of force policy and said the while he does not support extrajudicial killings, police had a right to defend themselves when threatened.

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"Three dead, one critical after shootout with police"

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