Prisoner found dead in cell at police station

A-25-year-old man who was arrested half an hour after he held up a taxi-driver and robbed him of his car on Saturday, was discovered dead in the cell at the San Juan Police Station two and a half hours later. Police sources revealed that Lewis committed suicide.

Reports revealed that the prisoner Gerad Lewis, of Prizgar Lands, Laventille, was arrested around 11.45 am on Saturday. He was taken to the San Juan Police Station where he was interviewed and placed in a cell at the station. Relatives of Lewis visited him at the San Juan Police Station. He was due to appear before a Tunapuna Magistrate today. According to reports, around 11.15 am on Saturday, taxi-driver Gabriel Mejias was plying his taxi for hire, when Lewis asked to be taken to Alberto Street, St Joseph. On reaching Alberto Street, Lewis pointed a gun at Mejias and robbed him and two other passengers of cash.  He then ordered them out of the vehicle and escaped in the car. A report was made to the San Juan Police and An All Points Bulletin was sent out to all police stations.

Around 11.30 am, the car was seen in San Juan and Lewis was arrested. A .38 revolver was found in his possession. Lewis was supposed to be placed on identification parades for other offences on Saturday but he complained of feeling unwell. Officers at the charge room at the San Juan Police Station claimed that Lewis was  last seen alive around 1.30 pm on Saturday. Around 2 pm, when they made a check, Lewis appeared to be dead. Snr Supt Desmond Lambert and other senior officers of the North Eastern Division along with a District Medical Officer visited the scene and the body was ordered removed to the Port-of-Spain Mortuary. Attempts to reach relatives of Lewis at Prizgar Lands Laventille yesterday proved futile.