A 24-year-old man was arrested following the stabbing of an Aranguez taxi driver yesterday and is expected to appear virtually before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate on Monday 11th October charged with assault with intent to rob.
ANDRE ADAMS, of El Socorro, was charged with the offence by Cpl Phillips of the San Juan Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on October 8th following a police report in which a taxi driver gave details of an incident during which he was stabbed by a male passenger.
According to the taxi driver, he picked up a passenger along the Aranguez Main Road, who, upon reaching the vicinity of Sundarsingh Drive Extension, the man allegedly stabbed him in his back and told him to hand over his car.
The injured driver swerved off the roadway following which the suspect exited the vehicle and began running.
Good Samaritans later took the driver to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt. Hope where he was medically examined and later discharged.
Further enquiries into the report resulted in the arrest of ADAMS who was later charged with assault with intent to rob.
Senior Superintendent, North-Eastern Division (NED), Winston Maharaj has noted the recent media reports in which there were concerns of police inaction raised by the Aranguez Taxi Drivers Association. Snr Supt. Maharaj said his officers remain very active on the ground and this presence he said played an instrumental role in the interception of the suspect in the stabbing incident involving the taxi driver.
The Snr Supt acknowledges that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) continues to engage with the Association and has indicated that the senior officers of the NED will meet with the association this week to address new concerns arising out of this unfortunate incident.
Snr Supt Maharaj elaborated that the Division is in the process of launching anti-crime exercises for the upcoming Divali and Christmas seasons. The launch of this initiative is expected to take place on October 22nd. During this period, police officers will be dispatched via foot patrols in non-traditional areas of the Division where the police have been receiving more reports of crime.
According to Snr Supt Maharaj, the officers’ sustained approach to the detection of crime and the arrest of criminals has led to a 15% reduction in serious crimes, which decreased from 643 reports in 2020 to 548 in 2021. He credits this accomplishment to the dismantling of gangs and the seizure of several illegal firearms from 61 in 2020 to 69 for the corresponding period in 2021.
The TTPS urges the public to be vigilant and to assist the police by reporting suspicious activities to the TTPS’ App, through CRIME STOPPERS or calling the police hotlines at 999 or 555.
Remember, if you ‘See something, say something!”
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