Two suspected housebreakers were arrested on Thursday afternoon after leading police on a car chase that turned into a “violent struggle” and ended in the Bacardi Road area when an officer shot one of the suspects.
Yesterday’s shooting marked the second involving a police officer this week. On Monday, a man believed to be in his early 20s died after being shot by police in the Pinewood Gardens area, only minutes away from his home.
Police Chief Superintendent Marvin Dames said Thursday’s incident began to unfold around 1 p.m. in the Adelaide Village area.
He said concerned residents spotted two suspicious males driving around the area in a green vehicle.
As a result of numerous housebreakings in the area, a concerned resident followed that vehicle east onto Carmichael Road, and placed a call to the police control room, said Supt. Dames.
“As a result of that call, an All Points Bulletin was put out on the vehicle. Officers then moved into the area and located the vehicle,” Supt. Dames said. “Upon seeing the officers the vehicle then picked up its speed and it was pursued into the Bacardi Road area.”
The chase ended in the area of Venice Bay, where the suspects got out of the vehicle and ran into a bushy area, west of where they came to a stop, said Supt. Dames.
Officers arrested one of the individuals immediately, but the other was able to get away by taking off his clothes, he said.
“By then, a number of other units gave purist of the individual on foot heading north,” Supt. Dames said. “As a result of that, when officers caught up with him and took him into custody, in that process he put up a violent struggle and as a result he was shot.”
Police officials said the suspect was shot in the upper left shoulder after allegedly attempting to disarm an arresting officer.
He was than taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital for treatment. No officers were injured during the incident.
ﾠ
ﾠ A pool of blood is visible near the steps of this house after a police officer shot a suspect in the Bacardi Road area. (Photo by Timothy Clarke)
The circumstances surrounding the shooting will be thoroughly investigated, said police.
Assistant Superintendent Prince Smith, officer in charge of the Carmichael Road Division, said that numerous complaints of house breaking have come into his station in recent weeks, forcing officers to increase their presence in the area.
“As a result of those complaints we have stepped up our patrols in the area, be it marked or unmarked vehicles,” ASP Smith said. “I would say that we had about 10 house break-ins already for the week and just (Thursday) we had about two or three reported in the Adelaide Village area, and these persons were reported to be suspects in those matters.”
Police said that yesterday’s capture of the two suspects was another example of the good working relationship between citizens and the police.
In Monday’s shooting, police reported that the young man allegedly attempted to avoid them after he spotted the officers in the area of the Pinewood Gardens baseball park.
Police said as they approached he drove away recklessly in the opposite direction, police then withdrew their weapons and fired a shot.
According to reports, the vehicle reversed into a stump and officers said it was unclear whether the man died from a fatal gunshot wound or died from injuries sustained in the car crash.
By: Stephen Gay, The Bahama Journal
