(Trinidad Guardian) An off-duty police officer disrupted the plans of a group of bandits in Santa Cruz yesterday after he shot one man and forced the group to abandon their criminal mission.
According to police reports, at around 9.30 am, three men entered Archie’s Supermarket at the corner of Stollmeyer Road and Cantaro Extension Road and announced a hold-up.
They robbed the store of a quantity of cash and cigarettes and were about to make their escape when they were spotted by the off duty police officer who was nearby.
The officer opened fire on the group of men, felling one of them.
The rest escaped on foot as the officer stopped them from entering a Nissan Wingroad, which was parked a short distance from the grocery.
Video of the off-duty officer standing over the bleeding bandit went viral on social media.
As he squirmed on the ground, residents in the area identified him as a dancehall artist who was from the Santa Cruz area.
The officer eventually got another off duty-officer to handcuff the bleeding man.
He was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where he was said to be listed in stable condition up to late yesterday evening.
Residents said they were surprised that the man would risk his career like that given he had started building a following with his musical releases earlier this year.
One of his music videos already garnered one million views on YouTube.
Police said the individual had been known to them in relation to similar robberies in the area.
Another shop in the area posted a sign on the door stating no shade, no hats, and no bandanas, following a spate of robberies in the area.
Police were said to be on the hunt for the other three suspects.
