Police concerned over spike in Tobago shootings

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ansley Garrick says Tobago police are concerned about the spike in shootings which occurred last week and are now focusing on dealing with illegal firearms.

“We have instructed the task force to be a little more present during the night time to treat with any suspicious activity that may lead to those shootings. The shootings would have been in the Shirvan Road police district so an aggressive police presence will be seen in the communities around that area for the next few months and even before.”

Speaking to Newsday, Garrick said he agreed there had been a “spike” in shootings on the island.

“Now the spike is not an increase, taking into consideration the statistics from last year and this year for the period January to May. (In that period) We would have had five shooting in 2018 and three in 2019.

"We have eight woundings from the same period in 2018 and in 2019, for the first five months, we have four. What was alarming, but it’s not an increase, was three shootings in one week was a concern for us, so we had to meet and treat with it."

Garrick said Tobago police had recovered eight firearms for the year and even though the use of illegal firearms was a major issue, Tobago had seen a 25 per cent decrease in murders involving illegal firearms for the period January to May 2019 compared to the same period last year.

“It means something is working where our efforts are concerned."

He added, "We are thankful for what assistance was given by members of the public to recover these firearms. If there was ever an issue of mistrust that caused a gap we are now trying to close that gap because we want that trust from the public so we can seize all the firearms on the island."

When asked if there were high-powered weapons on the island Garrick said most of the guns used in firearm related incidents were 9 mm pistols. “We can’t say whether its high-powered. The high-powered would more lean to AK- or AR-15. We haven’t found any spent shells reflecting this."

He said police was also working on increasing patrols to focus on reducing the number of house break-ins around the island. ACP Garrick said that issue also remained a problem for the Tobago police division.

“We will try to secure the communities with more patrols, try to seek out intelligence with things that are out of place like persons who are acting suspicious.

"We hope this will give us some traction in reducing those two sharp spikes in serious crimes that we had last week.”

The recent shootings came days apart with the first occurring on May 22 where police responded to a shooting at Nursery street Lambeau after a house was shot at several times before it was broken into.

Five Trinidadians and one Tobago man were arrested and charged when they were found inside the house hours after the shooting occurred.

The men pleaded guilty for breaking and entering and possession of marijuana on Monday. Police also executed an illegal firearms warrant at a guesthouse in Buccoo where the men stayed, however, only one small quantity of marijuana was found. Newsday understands the six men were hired by a man from Tobago to shoot at the house. He too was arrested. Investigations into the shooting are ongoing.

On May 25 another shooting was reported where one man was shot in the leg during a robbery at his home.

According to reports, the 34-year-old man was at his Blue Heron Dr, New Grange, home when the armed men approached him announcing a hold up. Nothing was stolen, but the victim was shot once in the leg before the men escaped. No one was held.

On May 23 another man was shot in his leg while he was in the company of a female friend. Reports indicate around 12.40 pm the victim from Plymouth, Arnos Vale, was sitting in his car at Forth Bennet, Black Rock, when masked men approached and announced a robbery. The driver was robbed of a half pack of cigarettes and his car keys. He was then shot in the leg before the suspects escaped. Police are continuing enquires.

ACP Garrick said he had urged his officers to patrol with integrity, compassion and professionalism. He is also calling on the Tobago public to restore their trust in the police.

“We are discovering Tobago is losing its pristine state and this will affect all of us including out Tourism sector. We have to return Tobago to the lovely paradise it once was and this can only be done by working together.”