-as police internal affairs body probing Lethem shooting, escape of prisoner
The Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is looking into the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting incident involving Lethem Police Station officers and two wanted suspects, Cortland Jones and Rickford King at Aranaputa Valley, North Rupununi.
Three ranks are under close arrest.
The shooting incident occurred on 2024-11-18 at around 12:30 p.m., in Pirara Village, Central Rupununi. A release yesterday from the police said that OPR is also investigating the circumstances that led to Jones escaping from Police custody at the Lethem Police Station.
The two suspects were wanted by Police for more than two years for a series of cattle larceny offences, while Cortland Jones was also wanted for the murder of Aeriey Matthews in October 2022.
On the day of the incident, Police received information that the two suspects were seen riding a motorcycle on the Lethem/Kurupukari trail. The suspects were confronted in Pirara Village, Central Rupununi, and when attempts were made to apprehend them, they attacked the ranks with two choppers. The Inspector, who led the team, was chopped in the right hand. King was shot in the lower left hip, and Jones was shot in the left thigh.
Both men were arrested and taken to Lethem Regional Hospital and treated before being taken into police custody. While in custody, Jones was handcuffed to a wheelchair in the Enquiries office due to his injuries and he escaped from the Police at around 01:05hrs on November 20th, 2024.
Three ranks are currently under close arrest assisting with the investigation.
