At approximately 9:30 am on Monday 22 October 2012, officers attached to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Street Crime Unit while in the districts observed a subject who was wanted for questioning in relation to an ongoing investigation. While attempting to apprehend the subject he escaped into a wooded area off the Leeward Highway. During the chase one of the officers came upon a second subject who pulled a gun.
A suspect who was allegedly wearing mask and a bullet proof vest fired a shot at one of our officers and a struggle ensued which resulted in a round being discharged from the suspects firearm and the suspect being shot. Neither of the officers were armed at the time of this incident. The officer who was involved in the struggle suffered injuries which required medical attention. The suspect who was shot suffered non-life threatening injuries and is still hospitalized. The second suspect was arrested earlier this morning, 23 October 2012. The investigations are continuing into this matter.
“Policing is a high-risk activity and police officers are often in harm’s way” stated Commissioner Farquhar. “Incidents like these reinforce the need for officers to be appropriately equipped, trained, and paid,” said the Commissioner. He added that, “I commend the actions of the two officers and I am extremely thankful for the outcome.” “The officers’ actions no doubt prevented another crime or crimes that could have ended tragically.”
