Two men, who were wanted by the police for a series of robberies, were yesterday afternoon arrested at Eccles Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.
One of the men has been identified as Godfrey Lynch, 19, of Agricola, while his accomplice, whose name was not immediately known, is said to be a 22-year-old Castello Housing Scheme resident.
Residents related that there was a third man who managed to escape.
Police were tipped off by residents of Republic Park, who reported that they saw the men acting “suspiciously” in the area.
Lynch, according to the police, has had several brushes with the law and was sentenced to 56 months in jail in his absence for an armed robbery, while his accomplice is said to be a prime suspect in two recent gas station robberies at Georgetown and Eccles.
The police, in press release on the arrests, said they received a call around 3pm from a public-spirited citizen, who informed them that the duo was seen acting suspiciously in an unoccupied house in Republic Park.
They responded promptly, however, after the men spotted the police they ran away.
They were later captured along Heliconia Avenue, Eccles.
When Stabroek News visited the area yesterday, several security firms were seen making checks around the houses they monitor. The police were also conducting patrol duties.
A handyman said he was cutting some trees in a yard when he noticed one of the men exiting the yard of a resident after seeing a car entering the street. “He came out and waved for the car, thinking maybe it was his [getaway] accomplice while the other suspect was hiding in the yard, but it was an unmarked police vehicle,” the man said.
He explained that after realising that it was the police in the vehicle, the man attempt to flee and a warning shot was fired by the police.
One of the men was caught in a resident’s backyard, while the other was arrested at Heliconia Avenue, which was surrounded by police ranks.
