Wanted man Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles, who escaped from the Sparendaam Police Station late last month, was the target of the police operation aback of North Ruimveldt late Tuesday night, according to Acting Commissioner of Police Henry Greene.
Greene, who was speaking to reporters yesterday following the police awards ceremony at Eve Leary, said that police had received intelligence that Charles was in the area and they turned up at the location and there was an exchange of gunfire. He said that the police were later joined by members of the Joint Services. Asked if anyone was injured during the shoot-out, Greene said that no lawman was injured.
The commissioner also revealed that there were two operations, following the North Ruimveldt shoot-out there was another operation aback of Eccles, East Bank Demerara, but he did not go into details.
Sources had told Stabroek News on Tuesday night that suspicious elements were seen in the community of North Ruimveldt and may have fled to the back of the community which is separated by the ‘Blacka’ canal from the canefields.
Lindo Creek
Greene had also stated that Charles was connected with the infamous Buxton gang but he did not mention the presence of Guyana’s most wanted Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins, whose gang the force has since linked to the death of the eight miners at Lindo Creek. The acting commissioner was asked how the men had travelled from Lindo Creek in the Berbice River to Georgetown and he said that he “really can’t answer that part of it.” Greene was also asked whether the trail of ‘Fineman’ may have gone cold and his answer was, “I have no comment on that.”
Asked about the suspect in the Lindo Creek massacre the police had said they had in custody, Greene refused to answer preferring to say that they would “do what we have to do in due course.”
He also did not confirm or deny whether the person was still in custody, stating that he would not answer the question “at this point.” He disclosed, however, that they have sought the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The acting commissioner also spoke about the visit of the three crime scene investigators from Trinidad who came here last week. He said they visited Lindo Creek and collected a few items, which were handed over to the police and included some “bones”. He said that the investigators are expected to compile a “complete” report which would be handed over to him.
He said that investigators, including a pathologist, are expected in the country “anytime” to conduct DNA tests on the remains found at the crime scene. Questioned as to what exactly is expected from the visits of the regional lawmen, Greene said that the officers would look “at what we have and give their own views.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs had announced last week after the US Government had indicated that it was unable to help Guyana in the investigation, that help had been sought from CARICOM countries and that Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados had all responded positively.
Greene was asked if the visiting officers would help to determine who executed the attack at Lindo Creek and he said “We have already pronounced on that.”
The police have since said that ballistics tests on the spent shells found at the scene show that they match one of the weapons that was recovered by the security forces from Cecil Ramcharran called ‘Uncle Willie’ and Robin Chung called ‘Chung Boy’ who were slain at Goat Farm during a confrontation with lawmen.
Police had said they encountered ‘Fineman’ and his gang during a confrontation at Christmas Falls on June 6. They said that one of the gunmen was killed while six others managed to escape.
Shortly after this another group of gunmen hijacked a busload of passengers on the Aroaima trail and disappeared. Police killed two gunmen subsequently at Goat Farm, located some 90 miles from Christmas Falls and arrested a teenager at Ituni. The teen was subsequently charged with the February 17 killings at Bartica. It is not clear whether the men who were killed – Chung and Ramcharran – were among the hijackers.
Police have not been able to explain how the gunmen who were first confronted at Christmas Falls were able to move 90 miles, breaking out of a cordon which was reportedly established by the Joint Services.
Magistrate Gilhuys
The acting commissioner was also asked about the investigation into the incident involving Magistrate Gordon Gilhuys which resulted in police officer Mark George being shot and he said that they are awaiting advice from the DPP. He said that the DPP had asked them to clear up “some matters” and one of those was getting a statement from the injured police officer who is hospitalised. He said they had to get permission from the man’s doctor and they have since being granted that permission but he was not certain whether the statement was taken.
Asked why the police cannot institute charges following their own investigations, the commissioner said that once it involves the police they always seek advice before instituting any charges.
