Santa Cruz man fingered in several robberies

NORTH Eastern Division police believe they have made a breakthrough with the arrest of a Santa Cruz man who has so far been pointed out on eight robberies, and larceny of a motorcar offence.

The 31-year-old man is due to be placed on several more ID parades today for a number of robberies in the Barataria, Morvant and San Juan areas. Police said the man was shot on Tuesday night while he was at a Santa Cruz bar.  A lone gunman reportedly entered the bar and started shooting and the Santa Cruz man was shot in the left shoulder. When the smoke cleared a revolver and 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition were found in a brown pouch. Investigations were subsequently carried out by the Firearms Interdiction Unit (FIU) under ASP Gregory Correia to determine if the Luger weapon was used in any illegal activities.

The Santa Cruz man, who was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was attended to and discharged, has since been charged with possession of the firearm and ammunition. The charges were laid by Cpl McMillan of the Santa Cruz Police Station. Police sources said the Santa Cruz man was placed on several identification parades late Thursday relative to a robbery at Apache’s Bar, Aranjuez, on September 29. During that robbery, at least ten people including women, were robbed by a man, who later stole a vehicle from a St James man who was also at the bar. The man was reportedly pointed out on eight of those identifictaion parades. He is to be charged by PC Fareed Mohammed of the Barataria/El Socorro Police Station. Meanwhile, head of the North Eastern Division, acting Sr Supt Waldron Bishop has commended young members of his task force for their seizure of at least ten sophisticated firearms in less than three weeks.