‘Dealer’ dies in police gun battle

As of Monday, February 12, 2018

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

POLICE shot and killed a man suspected of perpetrating a drug deal after he opened fire on officers attempting to apprehend him just off Cedar Way, near Carmichael Road, yesterday.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander, officers acting on information responded to the area just after 11am.

ACP Fernander, pictured below, said officers noticed the deceased allegedly carrying out a drug deal.

He said it was at this time, upon noticing police, the suspect engaged officers in a gunfire and was then fatally shot.

ACP Fernander added: “On examination of the vehicle, a weapon was recovered. Also, a kilo of suspected cocaine was also recovered from the scene. The deputy coroner visited and she was briefed, and the matter is now before the Coroner’s Court.”

ACP Fernander also said the area has been under increased police surveillance in recent weeks, including during the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s “Operation: Blue Water”, carried out last month.

During that operation, police, representatives from Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) and a tactical unit from the United States’ Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) spread teams and resources across the sky and streets of several hotspots in the Carmichael Road area.

During the operation, OPBAT helicopters hovered

over homes for nearly two hours, directing search lights to the ground while officers swept through communities acting on intelligence.

Police arrested about 30 people, while recovering stolen property, a number of flare guns, shotgun shells and at least two vehicles believed to be stolen in the United States and transported to the Bahamas.

Referring to the operation yesterday, ACP Fernander said: “I just want to highlight that a few weeks ago you noticed that we had an operation in this general southwestern area, this was one of the targeted areas. You saw the choppers were around.”

He added: “So we are intelligence driven and based on intel, these are the kinds of results that you are seeing that we are getting today.”

The deceased in yesterday’s incident, reportedly a resident of the area and in his 30s, is the fifth person killed by police this year and the tenth since November 2017.

Last month, a man who residents say was blind, was shot and killed by police, prompting an angry confrontation between residents and police in the Plantol Street and East Street area where the shooting occurred.

Police said they responded to reports of gunshots in the area, and when they responded they encountered two men on a motorbike; one of them aimed a firearm in the direction of officers.

However, police could not say whether the man who was shot and killed was the one who brandished the weapon. There was no report that a weapon was recovered from the scene.

According to The Tribune’s records, 11 people were killed in police-involved shootings last year.

More like this story

TalRussell 6 years, 9 months ago

Ma Comrades, granted none us were at the scene yet another policeman's shooting - resulting in the death of an individual..... but it must be "thoroughly and independently investigated" when it remains a death without chance at a trial... an important process of which no society can ever turn blind eye to and regardless of the life's background of the person(s) now dead. All deserve a voice justice seen to be delivered.

DDK 6 years, 9 months ago

I keep wondering why the police cameras which the RBPF "allegedly" has been supplied, are not used by the officers that deal with these "hot" situations..........

John 6 years, 9 months ago

License to kill. Seems to be the modus operadi of the police force. And the biggest danger is the organization they are parterning with does not have a good track record or clean hands, especially when it comes to dealing with black citizens in its way Wbu country. Are the government of the country and the people of The Bahamas going to continue to all this continued killing of citizens by a superficial police force to continue? Is the country being transformed once again into a police state, where the police does as it pleases, kills by choice and is, apparently, answerable to no one? When police killings are leading the murder rate and near twice the amount that happened under the former commi, something is drastically wrong.

OldFort2012 6 years, 9 months ago

Or drastically right. Keep on killing them, Mr. Policeman. The more, the better.

Aegeaon 6 years, 9 months ago

This isn't no conspiracy. This is doing the right thing, because that dealer shot at officers, they did what is necessary, and that deal was stopped. You blaming the police is showing that we love being criminals because of no risk, but fruitful rewards.

In your words, what can the police do if a criminal is shooting at them? They have standards and will follow protocols. They're not rogues.

John 6 years, 9 months ago

justice is in the courts and not in the laps of the commissioner or in the bullets in his officers' guns. go figure.About eighteen instances of police killings. In 90 percent the police claim the victim pulled a weapon or shot at the police. but never no damaged police cars or injured officers..What is the name of this movie again, 'Police can't come behind Old Fort Gates aye/' If you can justify 18 police killing in this little country in a matter of months, you are sick, mentally.

Aegeaon 6 years, 9 months ago

Justice in the courts? That system is fatally flawed, and is the reason why how criminals are kept in a loophole and away from jail. Even a good degree of gangsters are thrown straight back into the streets to kill more.

See what I meant? This country remains as a narco-state for years on end. Now we oppose the police and try for a worthless attempt for a shortcut. The solution is simple for them, either they end up in jail or in Hell. The criminals chose to die, and I don't blame the police either.

birdiestrachan 6 years, 9 months ago

The wind shied shows 5 bullets. I do not know the circumstances. But I do know there is a Just God and his justice will prevail.

Sickened 6 years, 9 months ago

Yup. God held the cops hand nice and steady and made sure the criminal got his justice.

Let the family cry in shame for raising such an awful child and menace to society and then we all move on.

TalRussell 6 years, 9 months ago

Ma Comrades, please stop review cause when you compare number shootings thus far 2018 and you compare to greater populated places - it has rungs alarm bells.

Some Canadian cities that saw police shootings in 2017:

Edmonton: 7 incidents (2 deaths) Winnipeg: 5 incidents (2 deaths) Ottawa: 2 incidents (1 death) Calgary: 2 incidents Toronto: 2 incidents Surrey, B.C.: 1 incident Salmon Arm, B.C.: 1 incident Vancouver: 1 incident

joeblow 6 years, 9 months ago

How many ghettos in those cities? Whats the rate of single parent homes there? What are the levels of immigration from destitute third world countries?

People in those cities are better educated and better socialized. They are much better at conflict resolution hence the naturally lower violent crime rates!

DEDDIE 6 years, 9 months ago

It is concerning that the police and the criminals are in a stiff competition with regards to homicides. It is even more concerning that a coroners court hasn't been in session for a number of years.

John 6 years, 9 months ago

And another killing this morning by police. Said the young man was wielding a knife when he was shot dead. SIX police killings for the year. About EIGHTEEN since the new commissioner took over. Could never happen in any part of the USA without there being riots nationwide. police should not be allowed to kill anyone and justify it with one sentence."The victim pulled a weapon on the police.' Then add more justification by claiming the victim had a record for drugs, or guns or was wanted or murder. This is dangerous policing at its lowest level.

Sickened 6 years, 9 months ago

No one is rioting because, on the whole, we have faith in the police and support them on a job well done. Society creates criminals and police hunt them down.

joeblow 6 years, 9 months ago

Would you prefer we read about police deaths at the hands of criminals? Lets be clear about one thing, criminals today have no conscience, some will kill for a cell phone or a piece of jewelry. If someone pulls a weapon on a police officer, do you think they won't carry out their threat? Do you believe the officer should not neutralize the threat? Madness! If unarmed people were being shot that's a different story! Officers have a right to protect and preserve their lives, they have families too!

Gotoutintime 6 years, 9 months ago

Another one who will no longer be a problem to law abiding citizens of this Country!

ThisIsOurs 6 years, 9 months ago

Here is what is wrong with this country. How much is a kilo of cocaine worth? I did a quick search and found 25,000 not sure if that right or wrong. But he's driving a cheap Japanese import. So he's killed in this cheap Japanese car while the person he's working for in west ridge or old fort bay gets to go to the Red Cross ball and government house and hobnob with the elites of society. They get to call in favours and bypass the law. That is what is wrong with our country. Our young men are no more than poor Oliver Twist, imprisoned in an endless cycle of poverty, violence and misuse while the Artful Dodger is somewhere out west in a million dollar home. He'll convince another impoverished boy to risk their lives to deliver his goods tomorrow.

Sickened 6 years, 9 months ago

The Artful Dodger could also be sitting in the House of Assembly??

bogart 6 years, 9 months ago

....just thought id mention alleged crimes @Tal while you list Vancouver 1 the furthest point on your list, stories on the syreet should have mentioned the Canadian couple who got robbed by Melia aroind Nov of handbag and wallet and credit cards him $80 and wife $10 plus the other Canadians around chrtistmas of handbag on PI and they were from Vancouver (Islamd) now these are just stories repeated from a Church in Vancoiver may not be true and retold on the streets of Nassau.

John 6 years, 9 months ago

"“We have to be well fed, the gringo tells us, so we can defend the country. In exchange for these pleasures, we cannot let these people down. One must be ready to defend the country against its enemies even at the expense of our own brothers. And, though it's unnecessary to say so, even at the expense of our mother. This might seem like an exaggeration, but the Western world is in danger and we know that the worst danger to the Western world is what they call 'the people.' The trainer shouts, 'Who is our worst enemy?' And we shout, 'The people!' And so on and so on, 'Who is the worst enemy of democracy?' And we all respond, 'The people!' Louder, he says. And we shout with all our might, 'The people, the people, the people." I'm telling you this in the strictest confidence, of course. They call us the Special Forces.” ― Manlio Argueta, One Day of Life

John 6 years, 9 months ago

"“We were murdered so often, I started believing Black bodies made better fertilizer.” ― Darnell Lamont Walker

sheeprunner12 6 years, 9 months ago

Black young boys in primary schools have the same motivation and drive as other children ....... But something drastically changes when they enter junior high schools ........ it requires a comprehensive or long term UB study in our Bahamian society ....... Has that been done????

joeblow 6 years, 9 months ago

Hormones, peer pressure and lack of proper male supervision!

John 6 years, 9 months ago

Predator drugs and food ...maybe? Why is Donald Trump so concerned about the MS-13 gang? Do you really want to know? Then do some research. Hint: the chickens are coming home to roost.

John 6 years, 9 months ago

Let’s debate the lamb that’s speaks like a dragon

Aegeaon 6 years, 9 months ago

Can you stop blaming others? Look at us. We had a chance to become a decent tourist destination and a solid banking service, but NO. Lynden sacrificed thousands of Bahamian lives over 30 years and our chance for the drug cartels.

5 million dollars each for every life sacrificed for that drug money. For how Carlos managed to make drug-running and killers a promoted and sanctioned activity in the Bahamas, not from some of those corrupt judges and DEA officials from America. The Miami Drug War started because of our own mistake. Now no one can be an honest citizen in our country. All of these gangs are embracing the cartels' explosive entrance into the Bahamas in the later future, and this Anti-American propaganda fed by those savages is cementing our demise. I can ensure you that in 10 years, even within 2 years. The country will embrace their new cartel rulers. While we become slaves and the deaths caused by the sicarios will be genocide.

Face it, the corruption and crime is the product of the Shadows of the Medellin Cartel

John 6 years, 9 months ago

Aeegeaon you are really lost. You seem to forget before the infamous drug 1980’s the average Bahamian never heard of cocaine or knew what it was. Marijuana was the extent of illegal drugs in The Bahamas, if fact most of the Caribbean. And even before Bahamians got involved these shores were flooded with the drugs (cocaine). Then as Bahamians got to know the value of trafficking cocaine as compared to marijuana they got involved. And yes there were many dead bodies. Lot of double cross deals and underhand dealings. But the amount of money that was left in these islands is a small drop in the bucket compared to went to the US, to Miami and New York and LA among other places. There was a drug loop where most of the narco money ended back in the US. And yes cocaine use and cocaine money help ruin these shores. But any police commissioner who has 18 dead bodies under his belt in the space of a few short months has nothing to be proud of. Especially when you consider that several of these killings by the police were multiple victims. No, there is no way to sugar coat that.

Sickened 6 years, 9 months ago

I have not yet heard of A SINGLE innocent person being killed by police. NOT ONE. NONE of the parents of these kids have categorically said that their kids aren't criminals. The only cry is why did they have to shoot them dead, why didn't they just arrest them.

Aegeaon 6 years, 9 months ago

Thing is, I'm also ashamed that the police didn't do a single thing for criminals and went on walkabouts. Wasting time and space for what? These criminals are striking fear into citizens and even Defense Force Marines and cops, yet the RBDF and RBPF is a bunch of pacified vegetables that refuse to take the risks to create safety for the Bahamas. There are 52 gangs still remaining, there's no reason for walkabouts or Police/Defense Force band parades at the moment. As for the 80's, sure that drug money isn't too much compared to the US. But unlike the Americans, there's only a matter of time before those corrupt judges are put down, dead or alive. In the Bahamas, we always get crooks involved in the Cartels' business in the 80's, so Carlos's ill-gained revenues remain in the country to sell back to sicarios or terrorist groups. You know how much money the PLP borrowed, or stole from the US or EU to pay these organizations to help cause chaos.

I say that the criminals are winning the street wars in Nassau, and the police are put to shame. Too many lives have been sacrificed for that same drug money from the 80's. The only way to prevent any further deaths is to arrest hundreds if not, thousands of gangsters. All which can turn bloody in a few months. But it's necessary to save the tourism product, as these gangs will be our demise in the future.

Neutralize the threat first, ask questions later!

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