Two police officers were injured when a prisoner made a shortlived escape from the Siparia Magistrates Court yesterday. The incident took place shortly after 2 pm while prisoners were being loaded into a police van, police said. The Pleasantville prisoner was remanded into custody after reappearing before a magistrate on charges of possession of a firearm and ammunition.
He was allegedly held with the illegal arms in Oropouche last year and has been in custody since capture. Reports said the prisoner was handcuffed with another man and put into the police van on the courthouse compound. He managed to free himself from his handcuff and kicked the door of a police vehicle, which slammed into two officers, knocking them to the ground. He then ran off.
Police chased and held him on High Street, where he tried to fight them off. He will be charged with two counts of assault, escaping legal custody and malicious damage. The two injured officers suffered fractures to their hands and were taken to the Siparia Health facility. Investigations are continuing.