Cop beaten with guitar

A POLICEMAN attached to the Firearms Interdiction Unit (FIU) is now singing the blues after he was attacked and beaten on the head with a guitar, used as a weapon by a 22-year-old man on Monday night. According to police reports, acting Sgt Toteram Dookie, 42, was on his way home  around 7 pm, when he stopped to purchase some food at a bar-b-que outlet in St Julien Village, Princes Town. While at the food outlet, a group of men were acting in a rowdy manner. The cook at the food stall, knowing Dookie was an officer of the law, approached the rowdy group of men and warned them of their behaviour. However, when Dookie also warned the group about their disorderly conduct, a 22-year-old man took up a guitar and struck the policeman on the head.

Dookie, who suffered injuries to his forehead, was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital where he was treated and discharged. A report was made to Princes Town police and swiftly officers swooped down in the area and detained the suspect. The man was taken to the police station where he was charged with wounding. He was due to appear before a Princes Town magistrate yesterday. Sgt Dookie was the officer who laid charges against five persons, including three Venezuelan women and a 12-year-old girl, for possession of arms, ammunition, a hand grenade, cocaine and marijuana. He was also the officer who charged policeman David Merez with possession of cocaine for trafficking and illegal possession of arms and ammunition two months ago.