Wearing a bulletproof vest on patrol proved to be a life saver for an officer within B Division (Berbice) who narrowly escaped death after a wanted man took away his service gun and discharge several rounds at him. The incident occurred sometime around 15:15h on Thursday at New Market Street, Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice. According to police reports, Constable 20060 Randy Claxton and another rank were on anti-crime patrol on motorcycles at New Market Street, when they saw suspect Keno Thomas, who is wanted for questioning in pending investigations into an armed robbery.
During efforts to arrest him, the suspect resisted and struck Constable Claxton to his face with a beer bottle. Thomas then took away Claxton’s service firearm and discharged several rounds at him while was fleeing with the firearm. Constable Claxton, who was luckily wearing a bulletproof vest, was hit to his back but did not sustain any injury.
Nevertheless, he was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he was treated for the injuries to his face and sent away.
Meanwhile, police conducted searches in the community during which three men and a woman were arrested.
Further information led investigators to recovering the Police Force’s .38 revolver.
