Police arrested four men and rescued an East Coast Demerara (ECD) taxi driver who was locked in the trunk of his motorcar, which was hijacked early yesterday morning and used to carry out robberies.
The incident occurred sometime around 02.59hrs during which the police exchanged gunfire with the suspects, wounding two of them.
They were identified as Rawle Franklin and Andrew Newyear. Their accomplices, Hamza Samuels and Emmanuel Hale were also apprehended.
According to a police statement, ranks received a report yesterday morning about a robbery committed on Lamaha Street, George-town by individuals in motorcar, PSS 2705.
As a result, ranks from Region 4A anti-crime patrols were alerted and they observed the vehicle along the Agricola Public Road, East Bank Deme-rara.
The patrol attempted to intercept the motorcar but the driver sped away. The police said the car was pursued by the anti-crime patrol. On Hunter Street, approaching Mandela Avenue, the car crashed into a barrier and came to a halt.
The suspects were then seen exiting the car. They fled the scene after which loud explosions, suspected to be gunshots were heard from their direction.
According to the police, a rank discharged a round in the said direction after which other anti-crime patrols arrived. A search was carried out in the area and the suspects were seen running. Gunshots were heard.
Franklin, who is known to the police was found lying on the northern parapet while Newyear was in the yard. They were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention. Hale and Samuels were found hiding in the yard.
Police recovered a 9MM pistol along with a magazine containing 3 live 9MM rounds.
Trunk
The vehicle involved in the incident was driven by Joshua Singh, a taxi driver attached to Shamo Taxi service at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara. CD as a taxi driver. The car belongs to Singh’s uncle.
After the suspects were nabbed, police searched the car and found Singh locked in the trunk.
Singh was questioned by the police and he provided an account of what transpired.
He related to the police that he was seated in the driver’s seat of the car when he was approached by three suspects and held at gunpoint. The men ordered Singh to exit the car.
In fear for his life, the police said Singh complied and was ordered into the trunk of the car. Singh further told the police that the car then drove off west on the railway embankment road. The car later stopped and he heard talking, then it continued to drive and later he heard the car hit into something and thereafter he heard loud explosions suspected to be gunshots, the police said.
Eight cellular phones, one laptop computer and a purse were also recovered in the car.
Further investigations are ongoing.
Over the past two weeks, a number of cars were stolen during hijackings and/or robberies.
Police Commander of Region 4A, Simon McBean yesterday told Stabroek News that once these incidents are reported they are being investigated.
“…As long the matter is reported it’s under active investigation….Most of them probably would be labelled under some robbery or somewhere along that line and they would have been investigated,” McBean said.
