JENSEN LA VENDE and SHARLENE RAMPERSAD
Police have shot and killed two suspected robbers in two separate incidents in north and south Trinidad. The first incident took place in Couva on Monday afternoon while the other happened early yesterday in St Augustine. The dead men have been identified as Kwesi de Coteau, 30, of Alexander Street, Corinth Hill, San Fernando, and Jonathon Ramlogan, 18, of Meade Street, El Dorado.
In the latter incident PC Rodell Phillip was shot in the chest and remained hospitalised last night after he was shot during an exchange of gunfire with Ramlogan and another accomplice. Investigating officers said around 3.30 am Phillip and another member of the Northern Division Task Force were on patrol along the Eastern Main Road when a man stopped them in St Augustine near the tunnel leading to UWI. Police said the man told them he had just been robbed and the two bandits were close by.
As the police went in the direction pointed out by the victim, they were reportedly shot at. They returned fire. Both Ramlogan and Phillip were shot during the exchange and taken to Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. Ramlogan was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital while Phillip was shot in the chest. The bullet is his right lung. The other robber escaped.
Head of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association Insp Anand Ramesar visited Phillip, who is attached to the Tunapuna Police Station and has three years’ service. Ramesar said while Phillip was resting comfortably, the police were keeping their fingers crossed and praying for a swift recovery as bullet wounds could be very tricky.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Ramlogan’s uncle Mukesh Lutchman said his nephew had a few infractions in the past and at the time the shootout took place he assumed his nephew was in bed but around 9 am he was told his nephew was dead. He described Ramlogan as a down-to-earth, loving man who cared deeply for his three younger brothers.
In the other incident De Coteau and another man robbed a cellular store in KK Plaza, at the corner of Noel Street and Southern Main Road, Couva. De Coteau and his accomplice, 18, armed with guns, went into the store at around 4.40 pm on Monday and robbed employees of cash, cellphones and accessories valued over $150,000.
The men locked the employees in a stockroom and escaped onto Noel Street. A report was made to police and Senior Sup Johnny Abraham launched a search. Police spotted the men on La Croix Street. They started shooting and the police returned fire, hitting De Coteau. His accomplice escaped. De Coteau was taken to the Couva Health Facility where he died during surgery.
The second suspect was held later in Couva and is expected to be charged with robbery and gun-related offences. All the stolen items were recovered.