Brasso Seco residents yesterday breathed a sigh of relief after learning that the country’s most wanted man, Azmon Alexander, was caught by police.
According to police reports, around 10.30 am yesterday officers of the Northern Division Task Force led by Insp Mark Maharaj chased a green Mazda car along Lennox Yearwood Boulevard, Malabar.
The 20 second chase began when police, including Sgts Haywood and Marcelle and Cpl Sifontes along with the Arima Crime Patrol, said they got information that Alexander was seen in the area. Police said they began surveillance in the area since Thursday after they received “certain information.” Alexander, police said, was armed with a cutlass and gave no resistance when the car was stopped yesterday. Both he and the driver were arrested and taken to the Arima Police Station.
Alexander, who escaped from the Mayaro Magistrate’s Court on January 31 after appearing on kidnapping and robbery charges, was deemed a “person of interest” in the disappearance of Brasso Seco residents Irma Rampersad, 49, her daughters—Felicia, 17, and Jennelle Gonzales 19 and Jennelle’s daughter 14-month-old Shania Amoroso. Police said in his attempt to elude them over the period of time he was being sought, he also began wearing women clothing to hide his identity.
He was also suspected to be involved in the disappearance of Rampersad’s neighbour, Felix Martinez, 52. The family members were last seen on October 26 and reported missing two days later. Some time after, Martinez was reported missing but residents thought he had gone hunting.
On November 8, Martinez’s body was found in a sleeping bag along with baby Shania. On November 11, Rampersad’s body was found near a tree. All three were found badly decomposed in the Brasso Seco forest. Both Rampersad and Martinez were strangled, according to autopsies. The cause of death for baby Shania remains unknown as her autopsy was inconclusive due to the advanced stage of decomposition.
Three days after Rampersad’s body was found, sisters Jennelle and Felicia were rescued from a make-shift camp deep in the Lalaja forest. The two were guarded by two gunmen who following a shootout with police and soldiers escaped into the bushes. On November 15, a 17-year-old suspect surrendered to police saying he had information pertaining to the girls’ capture.
Speaking in an interview yesterday relatives of Rampersad said they were overjoyed. The women, who were on their way to a safe house where their relatives have been since being discharged from the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex on November 18, said they were unable to speak and were “relieved.”
Alexander’s former girlfriend and mother to his 17-month-old, son Ameilia Hosien, said in an interview she was disappointed that Alexander did not heed her call to surrender but had to be captured like a wild animal. She said: “I relieved to know he has been arrested and justice could now be served on him. I could sleep peacefully now and no longer have to look over my shoulder. Right now we just have to wait and see what happens.”
Also speaking to the T&T Guardian yesterday was Rampersad’s widower, Peter Sylvester, who said the entire community was now “relaxed.” “Right now we feeling much relief because knowing he was out there had we under siege.
Everybody glad right now the whole community happy, things not back to normal because I lost my wife and thing but it much better knowing he get lock up,” Sylvester said adding since his wife disappeared he had not had a good night’s rest which was worsened by the thought that the man suspected to be responsible was still at large.
One family at Goat Hill, Arima said they felt both relieved and fearful. Relieved that Alexander has been arrested but fearful of relatives of baby Shania who have threatened them. The family members, who are also related to Alexander, said they had been living in fear of him after he allegedly threatened the entire family. The family also related to the 17-year-old who surrendered to police the day after the teenaged girls were rescued.
Alexander rocketed from an escaped accused to most wanted man after the family disappeared. When bodies began surfacing a call was made by head of the North Eastern Division Task Force Insp Roger Alexander for acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams to authorise a bounty on Alexander’s head. The authorisation was never granted.
After his arrest yesterday Alexander was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mouth Hope after complaining of suffering injuries. From the hospital he was transferred to the La Horquetta Police Station where he spent the night. He did not specify if those injuries were inflicted by police or while on the run.
Following the disappearance and murders of the Brasso Seco family, relatives of Alexander pleaded with him to surrender before he was killed by police as he was considered armed and dangerous.
PM praises cops
Hours after Alexander’s arrest, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was high in praise for police. In a statement, Persad-Bissessar extended congratulations to “all officers who dedicated their efforts in finding this suspect.” The PM said: “Given the brutal and tragic circumstances of the murders of three people from the Brasso Seco community, where one was an innocent 18-month old baby, quick and successful work by the police brings a sense of hope that justice will be delivered.”
She also thanked civic minded citizens who assisted the police during their investigations, which led to Alexander’s arrest. The Prime Minister said, “All officers of our protective services should heed the signals sent by these interventions which can help tremendously in ongoing efforts to build greater trust and confidence by people and communities in our Police Service.”
