-raps cop for carelessness
The pregnant fruit vendor who was accidently shot in the back by a policeman during a chase on Thursday is calling for the appropriate punishment to be meted out to the rank for his carelessness.
The bullet which pierced Earlene Morgan’s back exited her body and she was discharged from hospital yesterday, after being kept over-night so that her unborn child could be cleared of any danger.
Speaking to Stabroek News shortly after she was discharged from the Georgetown Hospital at midday, Morgan, a 20-year-old Buxtonian, disapproved of the way the policeman handled the situation on Thursday morning. “That place was crowded man. He shouldn’ta shot like that; when the shot fire people start to run towards me. I coulda get trampled,” the woman said.
Morgan said that action needs to be taken against the rank since his actions were unprofessional. She noted that several officers had visited her at the hospital but the policeman who injured her had not.
The police yesterday said that senior police officers, including Divisional Com-mander George Vyphuis and Force Welfare Officer Assistant Superintendent Ann Thompson, visited Morgan at the female surgical ward on Thursday night and early yesterday morning. During the visits, the police said, the woman chatted amicably with the officers who assured her of the force’s wish for her speedy recovery.
Morgan recalled hearing a single gunshot and said that she only realised she had been hit when she felt the burning.
She told Stabroek News that she boarded a car for the hospital almost immediately since she was pregnant and needed to ensure that her unborn child was safe.
After realising that she was hit, the rank ended his chased and joined the car that Morgan was in.
It was at this point he identified himself as a policeman. The woman recalled that afterward, the rank, while speaking on his cellular phone, informed the person on the other end that he had just shot a pregnant woman and was on his way to the hospital.
The woman said that she is feeling alright and was given medication for her pain.
Police said in a press release that around 9:20 am a plain clothes policeman saw a man snatch a cell phone from a female student and ride away on a bicycle in the Stabroek Market area. The policeman pursued and confronted the perpetrator in Water Street and “during efforts to arrest him, the man pulled out a knife and attacked the rank.” This, the release said caused the rank to resort to the use of force and he discharged a round from his service firearm at his attacker’s foot but it hit the ground and ricocheted, accidentally hitting Morgan.
The man was able to escape as the police rank went to the assistance of the injured woman, the release added.
Contacted yesterday, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said that an investigation has been launched into the matter and at some stage advice will be sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He explained that the investigation will determine if a criminal offence was committed or if there was a departmental breach as well as if there is need for additional training for ranks.
According to Persaud at the time of the shooting the rank was on duty in the area. When told of a similar incident which occurred near the Route 42/43 mini bus parks during which police discharged several rounds behind a fleeing man, the crime chief said that he was not aware of that incident.
In that incident, the area was also very crowded and persons were forced to scamper for safety. The thief was subsequently caught. He had earlier been found with a toy gun in his possession.