Shoppers in the Stabroek Market area scampered for cover yesterday just before noon when police fired shots behind a fleeing man who was earlier caught with a toy gun.

In the drama which unfolded in the vicinity of the routes 42 and 43 bus parks, one of the ranks sustained injuries to fingers on his left hand and was treated at the Georgetown Hospital.

Stabroek News was told that members of the City Constabulary found the man with a toy gun and handed him over to the police. While in police custody the man attempted to escape by running between buses and people in the crowded area. Two uniformed officers gave chase and fired shots. One of the ranks fell during the chase this newspaper was told and injured his hand.

No one could say if the shots were fired at the man or in the air but persons expressed disappointment with the police for discharging rounds in the busy downtown area.

Several persons who witnessed the incident said that after the shots were fired, the man threw himself on the ground and clutched his chest as though he had been shot. It was later discovered that the man was uninjured.

According to an eyewitness, around 11.30 am she noticed two ranks dressed in dark blue clothing pursuing a man who was running between buses in the Route 43 bus park. She said she heard about three shots after which persons “just start scattering in all directions”. The woman told Stabroek News that this was a scary first time experience for her.

The man was later arrested and placed in the tray of a police vehicle which ended up at the hospital with the injured rank.

Persons at the hospital said the man was left to bear the hot midday sun in the tray of the vehicle while the injured rank was seeking treatment in the emergency room of the Georgetown Hospital.

This drew the attention of many who were in the hospital’s compound at the time and a crowd soon surrounded the police vehicle.