Four bandits were arrested in the wee hours of Thursday and a taxi driver was rescued from the trunk of a car as a robbery subsequently led to a high-speed police chase and a shootout between law enforcement officers and bandits.
Two of the men were injured.
Police Headquarters in a statement said that at about 02:59hrs a caller reported to the Brickdam Operation room that motorcar # PSS 2705 – a white Allion – with persons inside had robbed someone on Lamaha Street, Georgetown.
As a result of the report received, Anti-Crime patrols were alerted.
One of the patrols observed the motorcar driving along the Agricola Access Road, East Bank Demerara. On approaching the Two Brothers Gas Station, it proceeded south on the Public Road.
The Anticrime Patrol subsequently attempted to intercept the vehicle but the driver drove away causing the Anti-Crime Patrol to continue to pursue the driver and occupants.
The car which was driving at a fast rate of speed turned on Hunter Street and approached Mandela Avenue where the driver lost control and collided with the northern barriers, causing damage to the vehicle and bringing it to a halt.
The statement said ranks from the Anti-Crime Patrol then observed four male suspects exiting the motorcar, attempted to run away from the scene.
Immediately thereafter, loud explosions – suspected to be gunshots – were heard coming from the direction where the suspects were running, thereby causing a rank to discharge a round in the direction where the suspected gunshots were coming from.
Other Anti-Crime patrols arrived shortly after to give support and a search was conducted in the area where the suspects were seen running and suspected gunshots were heard.
Rawle Franklin, a known character to the police was seen lying on the northern parapet bleeding from injuries, while his accomplice, Andrew Newyear was seen lying in a yard with injuries.
Further, the two other suspects were found by ranks of the Anti-Crime Patrol hiding in a yard. The police also recovered a 9MM pistol along with a magazine containing three live 9MM rounds.
Franklin and Andrew were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where they are both receiving medical attention.
Additionally, ranks from the Anti-Crime Patrol whilst conducting a search of the motorcar PSS 2705 and discovered Joshua Singh who was locked in the trunk of the car by the suspects.
Joshua Singh was questioned and he related to the ranks that he was at Shamo Taxi Base on Vryheid’s Lust Railway Embankment, ECD, working his uncle’s motorcar PSS 2705, and while he was seated in the driver’s seat of the car, he was approached by three of the suspects – one of whom pointed a gun at him and ordered him out of the car.
He was afraid for his life and so he complied and the men ordered him into the trunk of the car and locked him in there.
He further related that the car drove off heading 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.
Rank also recovered from motorcar PSS 2705, 8 (eight) cellular phones, 1 (one) Laptop computer and a female purse.
The scene and motorcar are presently being processed by Crime Scene Ranks and further investigations are being conducted.
