Cop slapped with damage to property, dangerous driving charges

CANU high-speed chase

The policeman who evaded arrest by ranks of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) a few weeks ago during a high-speed chase which damaged a gate at the Demerara Harbour Bridge is now on bail after appearing in court on Friday.
Ryan Morgan, a constable attached to the Special Branch Unit (SBU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) appeared before Magistrate Zorina Ally-Seepaul at the Wales Magistrate’s Court, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
He denied the charges of damage to property and dangerous driving.
Defence Counsel Dexter Todd made a successful bail application. On the damage to property charge, he was released on $20,000 bail and on the dangerous driving charge, he was released on $30,000 bail. The cases will continue on November 28, 2019.
It was alleged that on September 15, 2019, a high-speed chase took place between ranks of the CANU and Morgan, who was driving a motorcar that allegedly had four other passengers.
In the wee hours of that Sunday morning, the CANU ranks proved unsuccessful in their pursuit to nab the suspects, as the cop and his passengers made good their escape on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) after crashing through a gate at the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
Reports are that the chase commenced along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) roadways at about 01:20h sometime after the CANU ranks had been “tailing” the vehicle.
According to a senior Police source at that time, the CANU operatives had contacted the police in D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) shortly after 01:00h on Sunday to have them cordon off the area at the end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
“They wanted the police here to help to close off the route at the bridge so that the people could not escape. Basically, to block off the access of the bridge from the suspects, and to set up ranks in the perimeter at the end of the bridge on our side. Even though we did what they requested as soon as they notified us, the people got away,” the source said.
The suspects escaped from the narcotics agents by smashing through a gate at the side of the Harbour Bridge, damaging the infrastructure, before proceeding along the WCD route.
Although the CANU ranks continued in hot pursuit, their efforts in nabbing the suspects proved futile, as the occupants along with the driver of the motorcar managed to make good their escape.
It is unclear as to what information the CANU ranks had been in receipt of that led to the chase and if the occupants of the motorcar were in possession of illegal substances.
However, after several searches were conducted by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in D Division some hours after the chase occurred, the police were able locate the missing vehicle.
Police ranks discovered the car parked at the home of a mechanic who owns and operates a “body work repair” shop at Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD. Investigations continued after information revealed that the driver of the vehicle was a policeman and his identity was made known to investigators.
Shortly after, Morgan turned himself in at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary.