A 24-year-old East Dry River man was wounded in a shoot-out with police yesterday morning. The incident took place around 8.30 am when officers of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) were on mobile patrol at Harpe Place, East Dry River, Port-of-Spain, when a resident from a nearby Housing Development Corporation (HDC) apartment complex began shooting in the officers’ direction.
The officers returned fire and the suspect was shot in his neck and abdomen. He was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he remained warded under police guard in a serious but stable condition. A loaded 9 mm pistol was recovered at the scene. Investigators said after the man is discharged from hospital he will be charged with shooting with intent and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition.
Meanwhile, 18 people were arrested in an anti-crime exercise conducted in Port-of-Spain on Saturday night and yesterday morning. The exercise was co-ordinated by Senior Supt Wayne Boyd and led by ASP Ajith Persad of the Port-of-Spain CID. Several suspects were arrested in connection with recent robberies and burglaries in Port-of-Spain. Two men were held for possession of knives along Independence Square and three others were arrested for marijuana and cocaine possession.
Four men were arrested in Woodbrook for loitering connected to prostitution. The suspects will appear in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court later today.