Police who were stuck in the mid-afternoon traffic in Port-of-Spain yesterday ended up being in the right place at the right time as they saved the life of a woman who for years had suffered abuse at the hands of her estranged husband.The officers shot Christopher Reid to death after he pulled a gun on Chinales Thomas along Duke Street.According to police reports, around 2.40 pm Reid was seen fighting with Thomas, his former wife, along Duke Street, near Henry Street corner.
During the fight Reid, 45, of Second Caledonia, Morvant, pulled out a gun and placed it to Thomas' head.However, the driver of an unmarked police vehicle, who was stuck in traffic, jumped out of the car and shot Reid.Police said Reid was pronounced dead on arrival at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.According to eyewitnesses, Thomas had only minutes before left Pancho's Snackette on Henry Street, where she has been employed for the past two months. She and another woman were walking down Henry Street when Reid came out of hiding and grabbed her.
Witnesses said Reid attempted to force Thomas into a waiting car but she refused and began fighting with him. During the fight, men at a nearby bar sought to intervene but were stopped short when Reid pulled out a gun and pointed it at Thomas' head.Thomas' friend became frantic and sought help from someone.But almost at the same time, the police came and rescued Thomas.
"I give the police full respect. The police man just jump out and hit him (Reid). I hear about five shots," one man who wished not to be identified told the T&T Guardian.An employee at Pancho's, who did not want to be identified, told the T&T Guardian Thomas suffered years of abuse during the 20 years she was with Reid.
Reid, the woman said, would stalk Thomas and beat her whenever and wherever he could. The woman said during the last such incident Thomas was beaten with a hammer.Thomas, however, did not escape unhurt as eye witnesses said she was grazed on the head by the police officer's bullet and was taken to hospital for treatment.
The T&T Guardian was told that on Tuesday Reid had telephoned Thomas and accused her of being unfaithful. Thomas, the T&T Guardian was told, had recently applied to the police for a restraining order.Up to last evening she was being interviewed by police.
4 cops charged
In an unrelated incident, four police officers attached to the St Joseph station have been charged with two counts of misbehaviour in public office and the mistreatment of a prisoner.The officers, constables Dave Ramkissoon, 37, Sean Hutchinson, 29, Gary John, 26, and Aquilan Baptiste, 26, were charged by officers from the Professional Standards Bureau under ACP Harrikrishen Baldeo and Ag Supt Gregory Renwick, following an incident at the station on August 30. They are to appear in the Tunapuna Magistrates Court today.
