A police officer is presently under close arrest after he shot a businessman, who claims that he approached the lawman’s parked vehicle along the Fairfield Public Road, East Coast Demerara, to enquire if any help was needed.
The shooting which occurred around 11.30 pm on Monday, resulted in the businessman, Bertrand Robertson, of Lot 3 Rebecca’s Lust, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara being struck once to his left ankle. He was taken to the Mahaicony Hospital, where he was treated and discharged.
The police officer, who was identified as Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ravin Dass, remained under close arrest yesterday afternoon. He is said to be assisting with the investigation.
The Guyana Police Force, in a statement issued yesterday, said investigations revealed that the gazetted officer, Dass, was returning to Georgetown from Berbice when he felt sleepy and decided to stop along the Fairfield Public Road to take a rest. “He [Dass] alleged that he was subsequently awakened by someone knocking on the window glass of the driver’s side where he was seated and he lowered the glass and saw the suspect who enquired as to his presence there, to which he explained,” the police said.
The release stated that Robertson then removed the car key from its ignition and as Dass attempted to retrieve it, Robertson drew a hatchet. As a result, the police said Dass immediately drew his service revolver and discharged two rounds, hitting Robertson in the left ankle.
However, when contacted by Stabroek News yesterday, Robertson’s account of the shooting differed considerably. He explained that he and a cousin were driving by when they noticed a vehicle, which had no lights on, parked along the roadway. “As a driver, the first thing that came to mind was that it could be someone who needed some kind of assistance. So, I stopped and I walked towards the car,” Robertson said, while noting that the windows were up. He said in an effort to check if anyone was in the parked vehicle, he knocked twice on the driver’s window and he was greeted by the police officer, who discharged two shots in his direction.
“I started to run and after my cousin realised that I was shot, he hide behind my vehicle,” the businessman said. He ran into a nearby compound and alerted a guard to what transpired, he added.
However, at this time, he noticed that he was followed by ASP Dass, who was pointing the gun in his direction.
The businessman described the police officer’s reaction as very ignorant and called on the authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter.
The weapon along with two spent shells were recovered at the scene and the hatchet was lodged, police said.
