AN American boat captain was detained by police on Friday after opening fire on officers during a tense stand off on Green Turtle Cay where crime is virtually unheard of.
The captain and another American had sailed into the cay from South Florida on what is understood to be their third or fourth trip bringing rebuilding materials to help with recovery operations from Hurricane Dorian. When the vessel - the Beast of Burden - sailed into the Cay on Thursday evening it was met by two Customs officers and a Customs broker who it is understood had alleged he was owed money by the ship’s captain.
Shortly after the vessel docked a heated argument between the two parties broke out and the police were called. “The American was very irate and started cussing at the police officers,” a local resident told The Tribune.
“For 15 or 20 minutes he told them he was going to start his engines and leave. Apparently there was some alcohol involved which inflamed his temper.
“When he started the engines his friend who was with him got off the boat saying he didn’t want any part of what was happening.
“The police then started yelling at him to turn his engines off. This went on for another 20 minutes with the captain up in the cockpit of the boat.
For some reason when he came out of the cockpit they decided to grab him and subdue him.
“They decided to detain him for the night and figure out what they were going to do with him.”
The American was at this point taken off his vessel and placed in a building nearby.
“At some point between 1am and 2am he managed to get out of the house, ran down to the dock and jumped into the water. The police were quickly there and got some other folks who were moored there who’d come in from Key West to help them search for him in the darkness.
“Next thing we know he’s climbed back on to his boat, run into the cockpit and fired seven shots from his shotgun and of course the police started to run. At this point no one knew what was going on.”
The Tribune understands the police then called in Defence Force officers from Marsh Harbour, six of whom armed with machine guns subsequently arrived at the cay.
“The captain still wouldn’t cooperate and come off the boat so they secured the area and waited.”
Two other vessels arriving from Florida had to anchor offshore as the drama continued.
“At the end they called for another Go Fast boat from the Defence Force and when they arrived and pulled up at the dock he knew they meant business,” said the resident.
“At about 10.30 he knew he was in trouble and came out and surrendered.”
Yesterday a statement from police said: “
Comments
avidreader 4 years, 5 months ago
Very interesting indeed. Were these men in possession of virus test certificates? That is the first question. Will they face more serious consequences than the coconut vendor? That is the second question. The third question one feels compelled to ask is how much longer are these restrictions on our civil rights going to continue? Perhaps until there is nothing left of the local economy? Inquiring minds want to know.
SP 4 years, 5 months ago
Had a Bahamian opened fire on policeman the coconut judge or any other judge would unquestionably jail him for life!
Why are American boaters allowed free reign in and out of the country from a known virus hot spot when a Bahamian cannot move about inter-island, sell coconuts or fetch water from a pump?
Which pose more potential risk to the country?
hrysippus 4 years, 5 months ago
hey SaP, where did you find out that this man fired at the police? This was certainly not in the Tribune's report.
mandela 4 years, 5 months ago
Wow! that seemed like a long long drama with the American and handled with cautious kit gloves, I wondered though if this same scenario involving a Bahamian would have been handled the same way? My guess is no that individual would have been shot dead within the first seconds of shots fired siting being in fear of their lives, when shots were fired they ran from being in fear of their lives but did not fire back instead they found a way to wait this person out and deal with him without killing him, I hope in the future they learn to deal with Bahamians in the same way.,
happyfly 4 years, 5 months ago
How many boats coming and going from the USA just in this story alone ?????? Good thing Papa Doc has us all locked down so as we dont get the virus in this country ever again...............
Seaman 4 years, 5 months ago
The mate on the boat as of now is roaming all over Green Turtle Cay without a mask. Who knows if he has been tested. One rule for us and another for them.🤯
avidreader 4 years, 5 months ago
Dear Seaman: If it is actually the case that the mate of the boat involved in the shootout is roaming around Green Turtle Cay without a mask may I suggest that you inform the local nurse (if available) and/or the local constable. Perhaps, at the same time, the virus test status of the mate could be ascertained. It is incumbent upon the local community to require obedience to local laws.
thomas 4 years, 5 months ago
Notify immigration as well.
Bonefishpete 4 years, 5 months ago
Oh Boy
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 5 months ago
lol
I'm assuming you said that when you got to this juicy part
"At some point between 1am and 2am he managed to get out of the house, ran down to the dock and jumped into the water. ..... Next thing we know he’s climbed back on to his boat, run into the cockpit and fired seven shots from his shotgun and of course the police started to run..."
Pathfinder11 4 years, 5 months ago
I guess all Americans should stop bringing aid to the islands. That will help quell any concerns you may have. In addition maybe we should all sell our houses as well and just relocate to the keys.
SP 4 years, 5 months ago
All Americans, and everyone else, should be held accountable to rule of law! If you/they cannot, then you/they should indeed relocate to the Keys where you/they WILL unqueationably be held accountable to the rule of law!!!
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 5 months ago
not sure what the point was. There's no country in the world where anybody can fire a shotgun at the police. He's lucky he's still alive. In fact he's most likely only alive because he's white. They wouldn't have done all that waiting for a "regular" Bahamian.
avidreader 4 years, 5 months ago
Dear Pathfinder 11: It sounds as if you believe that laws and regulations don't apply to Americans. This is the reason their is so much distrust in the world. Your country refused to sign on to the International Court of Justice possibly on the assumption that your military should not be held accountable for atrocities committed in the land of other peoples. I'm sure the people of Abaco appreciate the efforts of your countrymen but they are expected to abide by the rules in force at the time. Don't be like the young American boy who vandalized the historic lighthouse in Hope Town a while back much to the embarrassment of his father who assumed liability for the damage.
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