EX-COP FOILS MURDER

The former Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) yesterday ‘arrested’ an armed man and in so doing foiled what could have been a murder after another man, bleeding badly, ran to Santana’s front gate and said he was being pursued by a man who wanted to kill him.

In an ironic twist, it was later learnt that the suspect is a businessman who was robbed at his home by the man who Santana rescued yesterday and who was only released from prison last week after posting bail for the alleged crime. He remains warded at hospital in critical condition suffering from gunshot wounds while the businessman remains in custody.

According to reports, at 11.25 am yesterday, the 29-year-old businessman was driving his white Toyota Hilux van along Husa Trace in Mayo when a silver Lancer car driven by the robbery accused, now out on bail, stopped in front of the Hilux and the man alighted from the car. The businessman is said to have shot the other in his leg and stomach, forcing him to run back to the car and drive off with the businessman in hot pursuit.

The wounded man drove six miles all the way to retired ACP Santana’s home in Gasparillo.

He ran out of the car, his clothes drenched in blood and called out to Santana. “I was in my yard when this car pulled up in front my gate and a man covered in blood came out and fell in front my gate as he called for help. I rushed to him and he said a man had just shot him in Mayo and he was trying to escape but the man was following him.

He gave me the man’s name and vehicle number before he slipped into unconsciousness,” Santana told Newsday.

He said that because the shot man’s car was parked almost in the middle of the road, other vehicles were unable to pass.

The driver of the Hilux soon arrived. At this point, Santana recognised the license plate number as they one given to him by the shooting victim. Santana said he drew his licensed firearm and approached the driver of the Hilux.

“I searched him and found a loaded Smith and Wesson pistol in the crotch area of his pants,” Santana said. The firearm had six rounds in its magazine. By this time, officers from the Gasparillo police station arrived and handcuffed the businessman whose unlicensed firearm was also seized. The shot man was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital. Police said that the businessman was robbed at his Mayo home of hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewellery, cash and household valuables by a gunman.

Commenting on the crime situation, Santana said, “things are now good and it does not seem to be getting better. I am calling on citizens to support the police however you can.

The police alone cannot fight crime.” The wellknown officer said that despite being recently retired, he is still willing to serve his country in whatever way he can if so called to do.

The suspect is expected to be charged with a number of offences including attempted murder, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

The shooting victim’s car, which was riddled with bullets, remains impounded. Detective Constable Castillo is investigating.