During Saturday night’s robbery near Caribbean Cinemas, bandits were unsuccessful in getting cash, but they did get their hands on something valuable.
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, has confirmed that the service firearm of a police officer was stolen during the attack.
Desir could not provide further details at this time, as it relates to the description of the firearm and the amount of ammunition it contained.
The officer, PC436 Glen Charlery, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Castries, was assaulted and stabbed in the head while conducting cash escort services at Caribbean Cinemas close to midnight on Saturday.
The police constable is recuperating after he was discharged from hospital early Sunday morning.
No one else was hurt during the attack carried out by at least two males, one armed with a gun and the other with a knife.
An official from the Gros Islet Fire Service confirmed receiving a call at about 11:48 p.m. that an officer was physically assaulted at Caribbean Cinemas. Another source said news was received that an officer reported being “in distress” at the cinemas due to a robbery incident.
This is second time in recent times that a police officer has lost a service firearm during an incident.
A Glock with 17 rounds of ammunition was discovered missing shortly after PC280 Allen ‘Randy’ Abbott, 40, of Grand Ravine, Dennery died in a motor vehicle accident on August 25, 2014.
Abbott’s motorcycle collided with a minibus on the Laborie/Vieux Fort Highway. His pillion rider survived.
Abbot was attached to the Special Service Unit (SSU).