(CMR) The police have confirmed Friday evening's major incident and attempted apprehension of several suspects in the West Bay Road area. Shortly after 6:00 pm, Friday 29 April, the RCIPS Tactical Firearms Response Unit had reason to stop a vehicle to carry out a search on Yacht Drive, West Bay.
As the vehicle came to a halt, two male occupants absconded on foot. Police apprehended and arrested a 20-year-old man of Bodden Town, for Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm and he was taken into custody. One firearm was recovered from the vehicle. The vehicle, a white Toyota Yaris, was recovered by police and will be examined for forensic evidence.
The other occupant of the vehicle escaped and police proceeded to pursue him across multiple locations in the vicinity of West Bay Road. He was believed to have been in possession of a firearm. During the pursuit, a single shot was fired by a tactical firearms officer. No injuries were reported.
Several roadblocks were put in place to support efforts to locate and apprehend the man, including one at the Yacht Club roundabout. The search for the man was stood down shortly after 9:00 pm and the man remains at large. Traffic on West Bay Road was at a standstill all the way back to the beginning of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway.
CMR sources indicated that the man that was eventually apprehended started to take his clothes off and head towards the ocean off Lizard Lane in an effort to escape the authorities. It was at this time that a gunshot was heard.
Numerous persons witnessed various aspects of the operation including some on a local bus. They captured the following footage:
Much of the community in the area was shocked at the activity and took to social media to express their shock at the situation.
“We understand that Friday night’s police activity attracted heightened public awareness”, says Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown. “We want to thank the public for cooperating with the police in allowing us to carry out our duties. This operation was a direct result of our heightened policing response to recent firearms incidents. The public will see more officers, particularly firearms officers, conducting operations. Our officers will continue efforts to locate the individual, but we ask the public, please, if you know anything about the movements of this man, please contact the police”.
If persons have information about the incident please call the Major Incident Room at 649-2930. Anonymous tips can be provided directly to the RCIPS via their Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or via their website. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Cayman Crime Stoppers online.
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