The incident, MiyVue.com understands, took place at about 10:30 on the evening of 19th, January, 2011, in the vicinity of the Canada Industrial Site.
“…Police officers of the Cayon Police Station were in the Canada Industrial Site area, just east of Conaree, conducting investigations into a report of a stolen motor scooter. While in the area above the Solid Waste Management Corporation (SWMC) landfill, in the vicinity of Insta Tyre World, police saw a motor scooter traveling with two persons, a rider and a pillion rider approaching them. When the scooter passed the police the police recognized that the scooter had no license plate or registration number affixed to the back and they immediately set chase.
“The occupants of the scooter then fired gunshots upon the police and the police returned fire in hot pursuit. The motorized chase ended at the main road junction leading to the Quarry when the occupants of the motor scooter fell off when they attempted to make a left turn onto the main paved road leading to the Quarry. The occupants of the scooter then made a run for it up the paved road leading to the Quarry and then made their escape through the nearby bushes.”
The press release explained that the officers followed the individuals and were successful in capturing one of the scooter’s occupants, however, the other managed to escape.
“The police followed on their heels and managed to capture a young man identified to be 21 years old Xavier Phillip of River Ghaut, Cayon coming from the said nearby bushes with gunshot injuries to left wrist and left leg. The police offices immediately called for backup and members of the various task forces as well as members of the St. Kitts and Nevis Defence Force (SKNDF) arrived shortly afterward and searched the nearby bushes and terrain for the other rider who managed to elude the police and is still at large. Members of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) also arrived and transported Phillip to the JNF Hospital where he received emergency medical treatment and is detained in stable condition under police guard.”
The officers emerged from the ordeal unscathed, according to the press release. However, a firearm was retrieved from the scene of the crime.
“None of the police officers involved in the incident was injured. The crime scene was processed by officer from the Crime Scene Department and one (1) 9 mm pistol and a motor scooter were retrieved from the scene and taken into police custody for further analysis.”
Phillip, the police informed, was visited at the hospital by members of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on 20th January, 2011 and was formally arrested “on suspicion for shooting at the police with intent to do them serious harm”.
“The police are making an appeal to members of the general public to call the Criminal Investigations Department at 465-2241 Exts. 220, 230, 231 and or 465-8351, and give useful information regarding this incident, in particular the other rider who is at large.”