Malabar man held with loaded pistol

A MALABAR man was arrested by Arima police yesterday morning after a loaded pistol which was stuck in his waist fell onto the road as he struggled to escape from the officers.

This is the sixth illegal firearm recovered by Arima detectives within the past two weeks, and the third seized over this weekend. According to reports, around 10 am Ag Cpl Mark Maharaj, PCs Naim Gyan, Gosine and others were on enquiries in Malabar when, on reaching Phase One, they saw a 21-year-old man standing at the side of the road. On seeing the police, the man tried to run away, but he was held a short distance away. While police tried to frisk him, the man struggled in an effort to escape. As he continued resisting, a Browning nine-millimetre semi-automatic pistol fell from his waist and was quickly retrieved by the police, who overpowered the man and arrested him.

The weapon had 15 live rounds in its magazine. The man was taken to the Arima Police Station where he was questioned. He will be placed on an identification parade today and appear before an Arima Magistrate tomorrow charged by Ag Cpl Maharaj with possession of arms and ammunition. The officers later arrested three men who are wanted for a series of armed robberies. The three will be placed on identification parades.