Cop, State witness held for kidnapping, robbery

A police constable attached to the San Juan-based Crime Suppression Unit and the State witness he was guarding were up until late yesterday detained at the St James Police Station after it was alleged that the two kidnapped and robbed a man. The constable, who once worked as a driver for senior police officers, and the State witness who was in the witness protection programme, were arrested on Wednesday night in St James. Police reports revealed that around 11 pm on Wednesday, 28-year-old Shindell Lyons of Waterhole Cocorite, was at Jeffers Lane, Cocorite, when a white B-14 Sentra with two occupants alighted from the vehicle and started beating him.

They robbed him of $600, ordered him into the vehicle and took him to Barataria, where he was thrown out of the car. Lyons went to the Barataria Police Station where he reported the robbery and kidnapping. Officers took Lyons to the St James Police Station because the alleged crimes were committed in that district. On arrival at the station, Lyons saw the car with the occupants who had allegedly robbed and kidnapped him, proceeding along the Western Main Road. A party of officers led by Cpl Leacock gave chase of the suspect vehicle and the car was intercepted in the vicinity of Smokey and Bunty.

The two occupants were pointed out by Lyons as the two who had committed the crimes against him. The suspects were taken to the St James Police Station where one of the men identified himself as a constable attached to the Crime Suppression Unit. The other suspect said that he was a State witness in the State witness protection programme and was out in the care of the police constable. Both suspects were detained and were questioned yesterday at the St James Police Station. Sgt Monilal of the St James CID is investigating.