Cop shot, Brazilian man escapes, 7 arrested over illegal ammo

Police Constable Anthony Weekes was flown to Georgetown Sunday after he was shot to the chest while allegedly trying to arrest a Brazilian national for possession of illegal ammunition at Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River.

Police Headquarters said Constable Weekes is presently a patient at the St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in a stable condition.

Police claimed that the ranks received information that the Brazilian miner had unlicensed weapons at the camp and so Constable Weekes and two other ranks visited the camp on foot at around 05:30hrs Sunday.

The Police alleged that they went to the suspect’s sleeping quarters and found him “laying in his bed.”

The cops then claimed that the suspect drew a firearm from underneath his pillow and discharged four rounds in the direction of the ranks, one of which struck Constable Weekes to his left side chest.

The ranks allegedly sought cover and in the process the suspect escaped.

A search of his camp unearthed thirty-six .38 rounds of ammunition along with a suspected warhead lodged in a fuel barrel.

Seven workers of the operation who were in camp at the time have been arrested and are in custody assisting with the investigation.

Additional ranks have been dispatched to the location as searches for the suspect continue.