Cops, bandits in highway shootout

Motorists proceeding along the east and west-bound lanes of the Beetham Highway were forced to stop their vehicles and pull aside to safety as Cpl Thompson and PC Gomez of the Besson Street CID traded bullets with two bandits on the highway.

Police, on Monday September 19, launched a manhunt for the two bandits.

The incident, police said, caused a massive traffic pile-up as scores of police vehicles later raced into the area in search of the two armed bandits who managed to escape in the mangrove.

Around 11 a.m., police said, Richard Thomas and Elijah Daly, two employees of a solid waste company, were at the Beetham landfill when they were approached by two armed men who robbed them of cash and jewelry totalling $6,620.

The men made their way to the Besson Street CID where a report was made to detectives and then later accompanied Cpl Thompson and PC Gomez to the scene.

They immediately pointed out the two suspects who were in the vicinity of Hell Yard.

Police said they called on the suspects to surrender but the men ran across the highway and began shooting at the officers who had decided to pursue them on foot.

Officers reported they were forced to stop at the centre of the highway and engage the suspects in a shootout.

Police radioed for backup and a contingent of officers led by Insp Sahadeo Singh quickly arrived at the scene and went in search of the suspects but they could not be found. Police said one of the suspects is known to them and that an arrest was imminent.

Some comments on this incident made by citizens were:

“These criminals have no kind of respect for authority and also no regard for human life firing shots while innocent drivers passing by. The TTPS has really stepped to the plate after the SoE was declared by the PM and their efforts are duly noted by members of the public.”

“TTPS response time to crime sincethe SoE has been really amazing. The SoE should have been declared a long time ago. Just to note if those road saying they were good boys." guys were shot by police some people would have been blocking the