St Thomas cop under probe
THE ST Thomas police have indicated that an investigation is under way into the arrest of one of their own on the weekend, for his alleged involvement in an abduction and multimilliondollar robbery that reportedly took place at Golden Grove in the parish.
The policeman, who is assigned to the St Thomas Police Division, is alleged to have colluded with three others, including an ex-cop to swindle over $2 million from a resident in the parish.
According to information reaching The Gleaner, the policeman was arrested on Sunday and is being held at a Corporate Area lockup.
The incident has been reported to the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB).
Superintendent of Police Allison Byfield, head of the St Thomas Police Division, told The Gleaner yesterday that an investigation is being spearheaded by IPROB regarding “an i ncident” that occurred in the parish last week.
NO COMMENT
When The Gleaner put the reports of the arrest to the divisional commander, she would neither confirm nor deny that one of the police personnel under her charge was in custody as part of the investigation to which she referred.
Byfield said her knowledge was limited and suggested that The Gleaner reach out to IPROB, which she said would be better able to assist with its queries.
The Gleaner was told by a source close to the investigation that the police are actively in pursuit of the other individuals implicated in the incident, including the mastermind, who was a close associate of the victim.
The investigation, which is advanced, surrounds a “set-up” conspiracy.
“The victim mention [to a friend] that he had collected large sums of money. The friend colluded with the ex-cop and the serving member. They took him away and told him they would ‘lost’ him if he did not get millions to secure his release… . The victim got to the funds and gave his abductors and then he was released… . He was warned not to report anything to the authorities. He did and the investigation began,” the source told The Gleaner.
Checks within the St Andrew North Police Division, where the policeman is being held, revealed that not much is known among different levels of police personnel about the arrest.
“I heard a policeman came into custody but [I] would have to find out is why,” one policemen told The Gleaner.
“I don’t know about it, I see some activity over the past few days at the station but to how police nuh really give information pon police, if you not on a shift when certain things a happen, it a go miss you until you see it in the media more time,” another policeman told The Gleaner.
Assistant Commissioner of Police McArthur Sutherland, who heads IPROB, could not be reached after multiple calls to his listed phone number yesterday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, head of the crime and security portfolio, also could not be reached.