The talk of CrimeWatch this week was a video aired by host Ian Alleyne on the programme which eventually went viral on Facebook. The amateur video, shot by a bystander, showed a fight between two groups of women at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain.
Police said the incident started after three carloads of women arrived at the area where booths were being painted for the forthcoming carnival season, at the front of the entrance to the Grand Stand, and attacked some of the female workers. The brawl quickly got out of control and a police unit on patrol stopped and tried to intervene.
However, the police got more than they bargained for as they women continued to fight in their presence, even attacking some of the police as they got between them. Not even a warning shot fired by one of the cops brought calm. Eventually, order was restored after a group of soldiers, who were also passing by and stopped to see what the commotion was about, helped out.
The video received a great deal of attention in the local media, as once again the police were in the forefront of a public bashing over the question of how much force was used. In this case, however, many agreed that the police did well in the circumstances. Alleyne also aired video of the funeral service of murdered teen Shabana Mohammed, who was laid to rest at the El Socorro Cemetery on January 10.
Mohammed, 19, was found buried at the back of her house on January 3, having been reported missing days before by her family. The autopsy showed her jugular vein had been crushed by strangulation. Despite her injury, dirt found in her air passage suggested that she may have been still breathing when her body was dumped by her attacker in a drain where she was later discovered.
The grief-stricken family spoke to Alleyne and said they are still trying to cope with their loss. The matter is still under investigation by police and no arrest has been made. In another story, Alleyne was sent footage that captured the arrest of 58-year-old businesswoman by police on Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain, on January, 12, 2015.
The footage showed onlookers becoming highly annoyed over the manner in which the police treated the elderly woman, who was placed under arrest and handcuffed as she sat in her vehicle as the police were attempting to tow it away. Alleyne is investigating the matter and has called on acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams to investigate the matter, noting citizens continue to lose confidence in the police service when incidents such as there occur.
Sr Supt Johnny Abraham and his Central Division colleagues were also praised for their swift recovery of a vehicle that was stolen at gunpoint along the Old Southern Main Road, Chaguanas, this week. The vehicle, a blue AD wagon, was recovered in Edinburgh 500 within 30 minutes of the theft. Alleyne also aired footage of a lone gunman storming into the Flirt Restaurant and Bar in Chaguanas, robbing the cashier and escaping with over $13,000.
Alleyne was on scene and interviewed the owners and employees, who gave details of the ordeal. Within minutes, the Central Division Task Force was able to locate the suspect and arrest him.
Breakthrough Story:
Ian Alleyne met with a mother who flew into Trinidad from St. Vincent in search of her two missing children this week. For three years the woman was unable to locate her children, aged three and five respectively. However, this time Alleyne had great news for the mother, as he had located them within 24 hours. Alleyne and his cameraman were on scene to film the heartwarming moment when the mother and her children were finally reunited after three years. Visit the Ian Alleyne fan page to see this video.
unsolved mystery
Sumariya Wilson, 60, of Waterloo, Central Trinidad, was knocked down by a man on a motorcycle on November 29, 2014. She sustained a broken hand and foot in the accident, but the biker fled the scene. The incident was captured on a nearby video camera and Alleyne got hold of it and has started investigations into the unfortunate incident. He appealing to anyone with information to kindly contact Crime Watch.
Relatives of 15-year-old Lakeisha Thompson, who went missing from her Sea Trace Circular, Bagatelle, Diego Martin home on December 21, 2014, also appealed to Alleyne for help this week. The public is asked to visit Alleyne’s fan page on Facebook to see photographs of Thompson, and anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Watch.