Cops nab robbers after high-speed car chase
TWO men who held up and robbed a businessman of over $500,000 in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew yesterday morning were arrested on Ballater Avenue after leading police on a high-speed car chase through the bustling commercial district.
Police said they seized a 9mm pistol after cornering the thieves who had tried to escape in a stolen car.
One man, claiming to be an eyewitness, said the drama, which drew lots of curious onlookers, unfolded like a scene from a Hollywood movie.
According to the police, the businessman had just completed a transaction at a financial institution and was leaving when the armed criminals attacked him.
“The man dem just run down pon de man, hold him up, tek ‘way a bag from him and den jump inna a car an’ speed off,” said one man.
The man said he was almost struck down by the robbers who crashed the getaway vehicle into several cars in their bid to escape.
A security guard who saw what was happening alerted a police patrol on Half-Way-Tree Road.
“We were travelling along Half-Way-Tree Road at about 10:30 am when we heard a security guard calling out to us that a robbery was just committed,” said Constable Michael Heron, one of the policemen who chased and cornered the criminals.
“As soon as we heard the news, we were signalled that the men were making their way along one of the streets in the area,” said Constable Christopher Walters, the driver of the patrol car.
Another cop, Corporal Rohan James, who saw what was happening, joined in the high-speed chase.
“I was in the traffic and I saw the police in the vehicle in front move; I also heard the security guard make the report and that was when I just acted,” said James.
Yet another policeman, Corporal Courtney Nugent from the Traffic Division, said he was nearby when he heard the report on his police radio and sped to the area.
The swift response by the police, and the fact that they captured the robbers alive, earned them praise from the public.
“Me a tell you seh, the police dem can drive yuh know; you waan see how dem drive down the man dem,” said one eyewitness.
