Mentally ill man shot after chopping cop

A MENTALLY unstable man was shot in the stomach, after he reportedly attacked and chopped a policeman with a cutlass in Hard Bargain yesterday.

The 38-year-old suspect was up to late yesterday evening warded under police guard at the San Fernando General Hospital while the policeman, PC Kazim Ali, 33, of E999 Rapid Response, was treated for a chop wound to his left arm and subsequently discharged from hospital. According to police reports, around 11 am, E999 officers responded to a report that a mentally unstable man was behaving in a violent manner at Hall Trace, Hard Bargain. On their arrival, two policemen reportedly spoke to the suspect and warned him about his behaviour. Reports stated the suspect walked away and returned with a brushing-cutlass. The mentally ill man attacked PC Ali, chopping him on his left arm. The other policeman then fired a single shot, which struck the suspect in the left side of his abdomen. Police said when the suspect is discharged from hospital he will face a number of criminal charges relating to the incident.  Head of Southern Division, Snr Supt Desmond Lambert, is spearheading investigations.