PHILIPSBURG:--- A number of police officers are trying to apprehend a ‘rasta’ looking female who was resisting arrest in the vicinity of the Pet Shop in Cole Bay on Saturday around 4pm when the suspect jumped into one of the police vehicle's and took off. Persons that were scene said that an officer slapped the woman prior to her jumping into the vehicle and try to escape. The persons on the scene said the woman is a known drug user and that she did not drove far away from the scene of the fracas between her and the police officers. The residents of Cole Bay that witnessed the incident said the woman drove into the yard of a known 'crack house" then jumped out of the vehicle and ran towards the hills. They said it was at that point police fired shots at her.
Eyewitnesses on the scene said the police officers were left motionless cursing but still managed to fire shots at the suspect.
Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson confirmed to SMN News that an incident took place in Cole Bay with a female suspect who drove away with a police vehicle. Henson said based on preliminary information provided to him the suspect was shot in her shoulder. In an update, Henson said that the suspect, was smoking drugs in Burger King toilet and police were called to the scene. The police spokesman said that the woman resisted arrest but the officer managed to arrest her, handcuffed her and placed her in the back of the police vehicle, he said the officer then left the suspect in the vehicle that was still on, with the keys in the ignition and went back inside of Burger King. Henson said somehow the suspect managed to go through the small window inside the vehicle that is located between the driver seat and the back seat. He said when the suspect got into the driver seat even though handcuffed she began very recklessly hitting other vehicles. Henson said that shots were fired at the suspect who parked the vehicle in the yard of known drug house but she was not shot. He said the shots hit the door and glass of the vehicle and the suspect got some bruises. The police spokesman said that the suspect was subsequently arrested and taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center while Forensic is conducting their investigations.
Suspect drives away with police vehicle
On Saturday, July 30th at approximately 03.50 p.m. a police patrol was directed to Burger King on the Union road where there was a report of a female drug addict using drugs in the toilet of that establishment. The patrol arrived shortly after and arrested the female suspect who strongly resisted her arrest. The patrol managed to place the suspect in handcuffs and put her in the rear of the police vehicle. One officer remained close to the vehicle while the other returned to the restaurant to speak to the manager.
Without noticing the female suspect managed to force herself through the small sliding glass window between the front and rear seat of the vehicle. She then drove off with the vehicle which was still running in the direction of Ace Mega Center. The officers ordered the suspect to stop but she did not follow these orders and continued driving. The officers chased the fleeing suspect on foot. The suspect was driving very dangerously hitting several other vehicles and forming a lot of danger persons in the area.
In order to force the suspect to stop the vehicle, shots were fired by the officers. One shot shattered the glass on the driver side door causing the suspect to suffer bruises to her shoulder. The suspect continued and drove into the yard of a crack house on the Celsius Road where the vehicle was brought to a stop. The suspect was rearrested.
She was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. Several patrols, Detectives, and Forensic Department were sent to the scene to conduct an investigation. This incident caused a major traffic back-up on the Union road. As more details become available the media will be informed.
KPSM Police Report
Female suspect drove away police vehicle --- suspect arrested (UPDATED)
