South Western Division police have launched a manhunt for three prisoners who escaped from a holding cell at the Siparia CID yesterday. The men, ages 19, 29 and 30, were discovered missing around midday when officers made a routine check. Police said they used the back area of the police station to break out of the building and escaped along High Street.
They managed to walk past the police station undetected and boarded a taxi for San Fernando. A female police officer who was travelling in the same taxi recognised the men and immediately contacted the San Fernando police. Officers were dispatched to the Siparia taxi stand in San Fernando. However, when the taxi arrived there the men were not inside. The escapees dropped off at Cross Crossing, San Fernando.
Up to late last night police were searching for the men. Police said the 30-year-old prisoner was transferred to the Siparia CID from Point Fortin and was placed in the cell around 9.30 am. He was due to be placed on identification parades this morning.
He was detained after a robbery on Friday evening at E-Street, Point Fortin, in which three men held up a delivery truck and robbed the salesman of cash and jewelry. They escaped in a white station wagon which was intercepted by police a short distance away. Two men escaped in some bushes, but suspect, who is from Central Trinidad, was held.
Police said the 29-year-old was detained for a serious offence, while 19-year-old was expected to be charged for the kidnapping and attempted rape of a teenager at Field Road, Point Fortin, on Thursday. Investigations are continuing.