Man stabbed during robbery
On Thursday January 20th at approximately 03.00 A.M. a police patrol from the Philipsburg Division was directed to the Sint Maarten Medical Center where a man was brought in to receive medical treatment for a stab wound to his stomach. At the hospital the patrol spoke to the victim with the initials R.K. who stated that he was attacked and robbed by three men at the home on the O’Nasha Jones street.
The victim further stated that during the robbery he resisted heavily against the robbers at which time one of robbers stabbed him in his stomach with a pointed object. After being stabbed he ran out of his house seeking help at the neighbor’s home, at which time the robbers fled the scene. The victim was treated at the hospital for his wound and admitted for observation. The Special Robbery unit and Forensic Department are busy investigating this matter.
Man stabbed during robbery
On Friday January 21st at approximately 03.40 a.m. police patrols were directed to a home on Gladiola road to investigate a case in which lady was shot. On their way to the scene the patrols learnt that the victim had already been transported by private vehicle to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for medical treatment and that no one would be on the crime scene. At the medical center one of the investigating patrols spoke to the brother of the victim with the initials L.M. who stated that while in his home he was unexpectedly attacked by a man with a gun his hand. The suspect threatened to use the gun. He however ran into his bedroom get something to defend himself against this suspect. While is his room he heard a gunshot go off. He headed towards his sisters bedroom and he could see the suspect running away. He noticed that his sister with the initials N.V.M. was lying on the floor and that she was shot in her upper right arm. At the medical center stated that the gunshot wound that the victim sustained is quite serious and that she had to be admitted to hospital for observation and further treatment. The Special Robbery Unit, Detective Department and Forensic Department are investigating this case to determine why this incident took place and who is responsible for this shooting.
Police responds to two recent cases
In connection with the recent case which took place in front of the Chinese Supermarket on the crossing of Soualiga road and Arch road on Wednesday January 19th during which the young man by the name of R. L. was arrested by police after he forcefully resisted his arrest, the police department is hereby stating the following. "The police department has taken note of this case and has also taken note of the serious allegations of "police brutality" that has been publicized by the local media. An internal investigation has started by police Internal Affairs. This investigation is of first priority not only because the allegations of "Police Brutality" but also because of serious injuries to one of the officers during the arrest of the suspect. Awaiting the results of the investigation, the police department is acknowledging the fact that it does not condone "police brutality" but is reminding the general public that resisting arrest is an unlawful act."
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In connection with the case in which allegations of violence and police corruption are made and which has recently been publicized in the local media, the police department is stating the following. "The police department has taken note of this serious case. After looking at the case so far it shows that the system works. It shows that when some-one is arrested or detained by a police officer he or she has to be brought in front of a Public prosecutor or an acting public prosecutor, who will evaluate the case and determine if there was sufficient and legal grounds to arrest or detain that person. In this case the acting public prosecutor evaluated the case and found that there were insufficient grounds to detain the individual and he was set free. A fact finding investigation by the Police Internal Affairs is ongoing in regard to the other allegations made.