Villagers rain bottles on cops

The lawmen had attempted to arrest a man for selling scratch bombs, but were greeted by an angry mob of villagers who threw bottles at them.

Police confirmed yesterday that they have issued warrants for two men of the area. None of the policemen were injured.

At about 10 pm, a resident called the Santa Flora Police Station to lodge a complaint about persons setting off scratch bombs at Los Charos junction.

According to a police report, when a party of policemen arrived in a vehicle, they did not see anyone at the junction. However, according to the report, the officers were on patrol in the area an hour later when they heard a loud explosion near the market in Los Charos.

The policemen saw a man selling scratch bombs to people at the side of the road. The officers, the report stated, also noticed that other persons were setting off scratch bombs on the other side of the road.

According to the report, the police officers came out of their vehicle and began walking towards the man who was selling the scratch bombs. The police report stated that the officers were stopped in their tracks when four men began pelting glass bottles at them.

A report stated that the policemen were forced to lock themselves in the car. They radioed the Siparia and Penal Criminal Investigation Departments for assistance.

The report stated that when more police officers arrived on the scene, the men were seen raining bottles at the officers. The bottle-throwers eventually ran off into nearby bushes, the report stated.

Santa Flora police are continuing investigations.