P/Town teacher held in Grande carjacking

The prompt response by police on Thursday led to the apprehension of suspects in robberies in Sangre Grande and Cunupia. In the first incident, a 28-year-old taxi driver was robbed and chopped while plying his trade on Wednesday night. Police said around 11 pm, Dinsley Eudovique of Vega de Oropuche, was driving his Honda Civic along the Toco Main Road when he was approached by two men pretending to be potential passengers who asked to be taken to a nearby hotel. Reports indicate that on reaching the location, a Nissan B14 drove up behind them and the two occupants exited the vehicle and announced a hold up. Eudovique told police that the two men entered his vehicle and ordered him to drive to a remote location while the two original passengers drove the B14 behind them.

In the vicinity of Foster Road, Eudovique’s vehicle stalled prompting the men to abandon the vehicle before which they relieved Eudovique of cash and valuables. Police said before fleeing in the awaiting vehicle one of the men who was carrying a cutlass, chopped Eudovique in the right hand, partially severing it in the process. After several minutes villagers who were alerted by the commotion came to the wounded taxi-driver’s assistance and took him to the Sangre Grande District Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to reattach his hand. The police were contacted and within minutes the attacker’s vehicle was intercepted in Valencia by officers of the Eastern Division Task Force.

The men who ranged in age from 20 to 32 all hailed from south Trinidad and included a primary school teacher from Princes Town and a security guard from Marabella. Up to late yesterday all four suspects were under interrogation at the Sangre Grande CID. ASP Neville Sankar, Sgt Ken Lutchman and WPC Stevens are probing the incident. Meanwhile, a 32-year-old Tunapuna resident was yesterday arrested mere hours after the robbery of a liquor mart along the Southern Main Road in Cunupia. According to police reports three armed men entered the premises of Narinesingh’s Liquor Mart at around 9 am where they proceeded to rob the owner and his employees of personal effects and a large quantity of cash.

Police were contacted by residents and officers led by Superintendent Johnny Abraham and Inspector Wayne Lawrence responded. One of the suspects was arrested a short distance from the businessplace, while police believe the two other robbers may have escaped in a waiting vehicle. Police said arrests are imminent for the two other robbers as their identities are well known to police. Investigations are continuing.