[UPDATED] CoP reacts as officer shot on duty: Police not taking that

Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher says any act of violence committed against a police officer “is absolutely unacceptable and will not be taken lightly.”

She made the comment as police officer Shakala Charles, who was shot during an attack in East Port of Spain, continues to recover at hospital.

Charles was on patrol in East Port of Spain around 8.30 pm and responded to a shooting at St Paul Street.

Gunmen shot at the police vehicle and Charles, who was in the front passenger seat, was hit. The bullet penetrated the side of his bulletproof vest.

Another man, identified as Keron George, of East Dry River, was also wounded in the attack.

Both the officer and George were taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Hours later, police received information that a suspect involved in the shooting was at a house on Production Drive, Sea Lots.

While there, officers shot one man dead and arrested two others.

CoP: Police shaken, but undaunted

In a statement on July 23, Harewood-Christopher said the attack on Charles left her deeply concerned, but said she was confident her officers would not shy away from their job.

“As an organisation we may be shaken, but we remain undaunted and resolute in our mission to uphold the rule of law and protect every person resident in TT. Any attack on an officer is an attack on the very foundation on which our society stands, therefore these acts will not be tolerated and we will pursue all necessary measures to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.”

She vowed the police would continue their clampdown on crime despite the attack.

“Those who feel emboldened to commit acts of lawlessness will feel the full force of the TTPS (TT Police Service), as we intensify our efforts against all acts of crime perpetrated against our citizens.”

The CoP extended heartfelt wishes for PC Charles’s swift and full recovery.

“The TTPS Social Work Unit is also ready to provide comprehensive psycho-social support to aid in his recovery process.”

“We stand in solidarity with PC Charles and his family during this challenging time, as this situation shines the spotlight on true courage and commitment of all our officers, who daily put their lives on the line to safeguard our communities.”

She praised officers for their “unwavering dedication” and thanked them for their continued service.

“Your courage and selflessness do not go unnoticed, and we are committed to ensuring your safety as you continue to protect and serve with P.R.I.D.E.”

Investigation leaves one dead

Police investigating the shooting were able to track the suspects to Sea Lots, using CCTV footage.

At around 1 am, they raided a compound with several apartments on Production Drive.

Jonathan Wharwood, a 39-year-old-mason, was shot during the raid.

In a statement on July 23, police said on entering a room on the compound, an officer was confronted by a man armed with a cutlass.

The release said Wharwood chopped an officer on his helmet and in response, police fired several shots in his direction.

Police say he slumped to the ground and was immediately taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Neighbours, though, gave a different account of the incident.

They said at around 1.30 am, police stormed the Sea Lots compound and questioned several people, including Wharwood.

Shortly afterwards, neighbours said, police escorted Wharwood back to his room. Minutes later, they heard four gunshots.

A neighbour who identified himself only by his alias, Blinchman, said he was in the yard when Wharwood was shot.

“They were asking him (about the St Paul Street shooting) but he don't know, because he would have been asleep at the time. He cooked for everybody on the block and went to take a rest.

“While they asking him...That wasn't enough and they bring him out the room, carry him back in and then...

“The policeman turned and said, ‘Man down, man down, man down.’ After he said that, the rest of police run inside and said, “Oh God, boy, is the wrong man, boy. Oh s--t, bring the jeep.’”

He said he and his wife were standing outside their room, just metres away, but were chased out of the yard and made to stand further down the street, despite being only partially clothed.

“After they realise I see that, they run me and my woman from in this building. I was in my boxers and I had to borrow clothes from a friend.”

Sea Lots resident: Police target us

Blinchman accused the police of indiscriminately targeting Sea Lots residents because of the stigma associated with the area.

“It didn't have to be (Wharwood). It could have been me. If I did open the door, it could have been me. It's a good thing my woman came and open the door.”

“Anything happen anywhere in the East-West Corridor, the police does come here, because, to them, Sea Lots is the worst place in Trinidad and Tobago. So anything happen anywhere else, they does run here."

He said Sea Lots was not a bad place and any perceptions to the contrary stemmed from the residents' refusal to accept the treatment by the police.

“It’s government workers, construction workers, hard workers living in this area.

“We stand (against) what is wrong. That is how we are. When they do we wrong we stand (against) it. They can't do we wrong and have we in a corner and we pat down. No. They do we wrong and we stand (against) it, and that's the problem Sea Lots people have since before some of us are born.”

He described TT as a country where justice could not be done.

“Sometimes justice have to be done how we have to do it. The police and the government system not giving us no justice, because we have a stigma from since we born. We have a stigma that Sea Lots people is outlaws.

“We never create that stigma, we come and meet that stigma, and the government just keep carrying that stigma on Sea Lots people, and we want it to stop.”

He said despite the treatment by the police, they did not intend to leave the area.

“They want we to leave, but we're not leaving. We born and grow here. Our foreparents backfill here and make here Sea Lots. We have nowhere to go. We staying here.”

Wharwood’s daughter: 'Aren't police supposed to protect us?'

Wharwood’s family described him as a quiet and industrious man who was “not in anything” and tried to mind his business.

“He was a builder. Most of the houses here around here in Sea Lots, his hand was on it. He would have helped build most of the houses that we have in the community here.

“He would lime with his people if they are liming in front (the compound). But he's not somebody to be in any mischief.”

His girlfriend, who did not want to be named, said she was waiting for him to bring some food over to her house, but when he didn’t arrive, she went to bed.

She was awakened sometime later by residents who told her what had happened.

She said he was never a violent man, but he did face drug possession charges.

“He was held with marijuana, but it was small amounts, and he was in the process of getting the matters expunged from his record, because he wanted to go and visit his father in the US.”

She said Wharwood was a good father and his children had not been dealing well with the news.

“My daughter, while she was crying, she was saying, ‘Mummy, ain't the police supposed to protect us? They killed my daddy, but they're supposed to be protecting us.’ That is her words this morning.”

Describing his death as “heart-wrenching,” she said she intended to contact the Police Complaints Authority and would not rest until justice was done.

“It cannot be swept under the ma,t because villagers here would have heard the police saying that it was the wrong person they killed.

“When they came back, they admitted they know they kill an innocent person, but they said they not leaving Sea Lots until they get who they're looking for.”

She said she had not been contacted by the police Victim and Witness Support Unit and did not expect to be.

“They wouldn't do that. Anybody that get killed in certain areas with a stereotype, they wouldn't come. No condolences.”

This story was originally published with the title "Man dead after police shooting in Sea Lots" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A police-involved shooting in Sea Lots has left one man dead.

Jonathan Wharwood was shot at his home on Production Drive on July 23 during a police raid.

Police were searching for the people responsible for shooting two people, including a police officer, on July 22. The officer was on patrol in East Port of Spain around 8.30 pm and responded to a shooting at St Paul Street.

Gunmen opened fire on the police vehicle and PC Shakala Charles, who was in the front passenger seat, was hit. The bullet penetrated the side of his bulletproof vest.

Another man, identified as Keron George, of East Dry River, was also wounded in the attack.

Both the officer and George were taken to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

Neighbours say at around 1.30 am, police stormed the Sea Lots compound and questioned several people, including Wharwood.

Shortly afterwards, neighbours said, police escorted Wharwood back to his room. Minutes later, they heard four gunshots.

Police put Wharton in a police van and took him to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.