A taxi driver who was held at gunpoint and robbed on Wednesday when he stopped to put off a passenger says that the suspect escaped from the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station lock-ups during the wee hours of yesterday.

An upset Roy Ramjawan who is attached to the Top Notch taxi service located at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, told Stabroek News that he got the distressing news when he went to work yesterday morning.

Stabroek News contacted Commander of `D’ Division Paulette Morrison yesterday afternoon but she said that she was unaware of the incident and would have to check. This newspaper was unable to reach her subsequently. No other senior officer could be reached for a comment.

The man told this newspaper that when he went to the station he was told by a policeman that the suspect escaped by jumping through the ceiling.

Ramjawan explained that he found that hard to believe as the lock-ups had approximately ten other persons and it was only the suspect who managed to escape.

He said that the policeman told him that the man has been wanted for a long time and they are doing everything they can to find him.

The taxi driver said that he was hired at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara by the suspect to go to Princes and Smyth streets in the city. When he arrived at the destination around 7 pm, a man who was waiting held him at gunpoint.

There was a scuffle but the men managed to escape with $10,000 cash, the vehicle’s radio set and Ramjawan’s personal jewellery. The man escaped unhurt.

A report was later made at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station and based on information and the description given, the police arrested a suspect at Pouderoyen.

Police said that the man has been identified as one of the perpetrators.