Police have held a 29-year-old man they believe to be a serial rapist.They say the suspect posed as a private for hire "PH" taxi driver along the St James to Port-of-Spain route and are calling on possible victims to step forward.The man is alleged to have committed several rapes and robberies with another male accused who is still on the run. He was arrested at his St James home by detectives from the Western Division on Saturday, following several reports within the past few months.
Police say the suspect operated using a white Honda Civic and a white Nissan Tiida. His modus operandi was to take his female passengers to lonely areas between St James and Port-of-Spain, where he would rob and rape them. Police believe that several of the duo's victims have never reported the incidents.The police are appealing to members of the public who may have been victims to visit the St James Police Station or call 622-0753. Callers are advised to speak to Insp Henry Dann, Sgt Beard, Cpl Charles or WPC Phillip.
Meanwhile, three men who were critically shot in the Northern Division are "coming along fine," police said yesterday.Sherwin Johnson, Sheldon Isaac and Devon de Coteau were shot in separate incidents.Johnson, 33, of Rose Drive, Evergreen, Carapo, was shot around 1.45 pm on January 6 near his home. He was shot several times about the body. Police said neighbours heard gunshots and found Johnson lying in the road.On Monday, 29-year-old De Coteau was shot several times around 9.45 am.
Police said De Coteau, of Maloney Boulevard, St Joseph, was near the Arima to Port-of-Spain taxi stand on the corner of St Joseph and Green Streets when he was ambushed and shot. He was taken to the Arima Health Facility, then transferred to the Eric Williams Medical Complex, Mt Hope. A 21-year-old suspect was held a short distance away with a gun.
And around 10 am on Sunday, Isaac, 47, of Savannah Road, Peytonville, Arima, went to buy doubles from a vendor at the corner of Spancrete Boulevard and O'Meara Road, Arima.Eyewitnesses told police when Isaac was returning to his green Toyota Corolla he was confronted by a gunman who shot him in the chest, head and arm. He was taken to the Arima Health Facility, then to the EWMC, where he is warded in a stable condition. A man fitting the description of the gunman was arrested a short while later.