Special Branch ranks who shot at Police Sergeant under close arrest, OPR investigating

Five police officers – a Sergeant, a Corporal, a Lance Corporal and two Constables – who reportedly shot at a Police Sergeant are under close arrest and the incident is being investigated by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

According to a statement from Police Headquarters, the shooting incident occurred at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, on Monday.

The Sergeant who was stopped when the ranks opened fire was identified as Ronald Payne of the Providence Police Station.

“The Special Branch ranks were at the time assisting Regional Division #3 ranks in the investigation of an alleged robbery/murder, and they were looking for a dark-coloured Toyota Rumion car that the suspects had used as a getaway vehicle,” the police statement noted.

Sergeant Payne was driving home from work in his dark-coloured Toyota Rumion at around 22:10 hrs when he was stopped by the ranks, who opened fire in the air and ordered him to stop.

Sergeant Payne, who was unaware that the ranks were Special Branch operatives, became terrified and drove to the Providence Police Station.

The ranks also went to the Providence Police Station and were subsequently placed under closed arrest.

Their firearms were seized.

Crime scene technicians processed the scene and recovered several spent shells.

The Police Ballistics Department is examining the shells and firearms. There were no injuries or property damage during the incident.