Dartmouth fatal shooting: Implicated cop remains under close arrest

– PCA still reviewing file

The cop implicated in the fatal shooting of Essequibo businessman Orin Boston remains under close arrest as investigations continue.

This is according to a senior officer within the Guyana Police Force (GPF), who said the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) would make its recommendations based on its findings, which would determine whether or not the cop would be charged departmentally or through the court system.
Guyana Times was told the file on the shooting incident is still engaging the attention of the Chairman of the PCA, Justice William Ramlall.
When contacted, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said the investigation is being done solely by the OPR, and not the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). He did not divulge any information with respect to investigation.
Boston, of Hoppy Street Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was shot by SWAT officers during a search of his home at about 4:40h on September 15. Boston was reportedly shot with a .223 calibre rifle, which is the standard weapon issued to the SWAT team.
As word of Boston’s death spread in the community, angry friends, relatives and villagers took to the streets to vent their disapproval. They hauled fallen trees, old tyres and derelict cars to the middle of the main access road, and began their fiery protest, which lasted for several days.
They demanded justice and answers from the Police as to what intelligence they possessed that caused them to enter the dead man’s home.
Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum visited the family and promised to leave no stone unturned as they ordered an independent probe by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
The Top Cop had also confirmed that the SWAT officer who fired the fatal shot has since been placed under close arrest as the investigation continues.
At a press conference hours after the shooting, Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie indicated that Boston was killed as a result of intelligence gathered for an anti-crime operation. He could not say what the Police were searching for when they entered the home of the bar owner.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told reporters that Boston had never been prosecuted by the Police.
An autopsy performed on the body of Boston revealed that he died as a result of haemorrhage and shock due to gunshot injuries to the chest. Dr Nehaul Singh, who conducted the post mortem, also stated that a single warhead was removed from Boston’s body.
This contradicts the first report by the Police, which stated that the now dead businessman was shot to his arm following a confrontation with the SWAT team.
Following the report, Boston’s wife had refuted the claim that there had been a confrontation on the morning of the deadly shooting. In fact, she related that Boston was in his bed when he was shot and killed.