Suspect GT rum bar robber injured in cop crash
(CNS): A robbery suspect from Savannah is being airlifted for medical treatment today after a collision with the police in the wake of an attempted armed stick-up in George Town last night. The 20-year-old man had attempted to evade police during a long pursuit following the failed robbery at the popular tourist spot, the Smugglers Rum Bar at the corner of Harbor Drive and Fort Street in the heart of the capital. Explaining the sequence of events, police said that at about 10:15 on Thursday night (7 April) they responded to the attempted robbery report, where two men with covered faces and armed with what appeared to be guns had entered the bar demanding valuables from customers but left empty handed.
The first man was said to be stocky, well-built and about 5’10”. The second was about the same height but with a slim build. Both men were masked and wore long-sleeved shirts and dark pants.
When police arrived on the scene just after the incident officers saw a man speeding away on a dirt bike on Harbor Drive. Coordinating with the police helicopter, the police tracked the rider and robbery suspect through town.
The rider, who was speeding, was followed by both the RCIPS chopper and ground vehicles for a lengthy period, an RCIPS spokesperson said. He failed to respond to police sirens and emergency lights signaling him to stop throughout the chase. As he and the police cars approached Lantern Point, there was a collision between the dirt bike and a police vehicle. The rider was taken to hospital with serious injuries and was flown off island Friday for treatment.
Anyone with information about this attempted robbery is encouraged to call George Town CID at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can be provided via the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS)
How stupid does everyone on this thread feel now that he has been cleared from this robbery? Does he still deserve what he got for “speeding away”?
Um actually maybe he does. Did he need to endanger countless people by fleeing the police?
WHOOOOOOAAAAA! Here we go again, posting all manner of commentary on a matter that requires careful investigation to determine THE FACTS IN THE MATTER. PLEASE, hold you horses on this one, as the facts are not yet in. Sorry that he is badly injured, and I hope he is not one of the criminals, BUT, no license and no insurance is a criminal offense. Lets all keep cool and not be too judgemental of him, or, the RCIP.
No you should not run from the police therefore, if he fell on his own that is one thing, however if he was purposefully knocked down that is an entirely different story. I have tried to look at this from every aspect and I just can not justify the police using deadly force to stop this kid. No one was killed or physically harmed in the robbery (that I honestly do not even believe he was involved with). I know people will disagree however if it does turn out that he was purposefully knocked down, this is just as bad as someone being shot in the back while running from the general location of a crime scene. That is not ok!
How bout we collect all these dam bikes of all shapes and sizes and destroy them. Do nothing but cause havoc on the streets. Make there importation illegal
As I’ve said before. These idiots on their bikes riding in and out of traffic, speeding, no lights. If that’s your lifestyle then you should expect that some are gonna take a tumble. Here here to the RCIP.
The Police must have had a really good reason to pursue this young man, Because of the no pursuit policy they have in place,Which by the way was born of similar circumstances where a young rider was severely and permanently injured by a undisciplined police officer who is still currently employed. Where he used his police vehicle intentionally and maliciously to ram the rider.The RCIPS was sued and found to be liable and defendant was award substantial sum of money for his injuries. Why this officer is still employed is still a mystery????
We discussed this case at home, including that people saying that this guy may have not been the robber. My twelve year old pointed out that he still committed a crime cause he should have stopped and pulled over when police told him to do so. Nough said!
Because you do everything the police tell you to do because they are the law themselves and none of them have or can do any wrong. Your suppose to do everything and anything a officer tells you to do. They are the guardian angels of this island.
Guardian angels yeah.. that’s why there is a robbery every single night at 15% of them are caught? Get a grip.
I read in the news the father of this young man injured while running from the police saying that his son told him after the accident that he was innocent and only ran from the police because he had no license or insurance for the motor bike.
If this young man lives at home, did the parents know he had a motor bike with no insurance or registration? If not why not?
Blaming the police for the actions of a suspected armed robber evading capture is foolishness.
We must start teaching accountability and responsibility.
Maybe a little respect and honesty would also be worth teaching!
This is why Cayman’s society has been rotting away. Parents no longer hold their children accountable for anything, they believe their children never tell any lies and are better than anyone else’s child. Kids in Cayman have grown up with a silver spoon in their mouth for the last two decades. They do not believe and understand that the rules, regulations and laws apply to them (and unfortunately the failure of the RCIP and Government to uphold the laws hasn’t helped either). They have seen examples set by their parents for taking short cuts and working in a favor giving/favor taking society.
Only after something happens are parents usually all up in arms, when they were supposed to be around to teach their children the rules of life, how to be a valuable member of society and to respect authority, they are usually nowhere to be found.
If he is guilty …how does the RCIPS intend to get him back from the United States??? And, lets cut the foolishness about extradition because that cost money (lots and lots of it about CI200,000) and this Cayman Islands runs on a budget… (a strict one too) and everybody knows that heck we have even cut education scholarships and legal aid. The problem is we don’t know how to profit from war with the criminal elements. Until we learn that we need to seize everything they own and auction it off we will continue to be at their mercy.
We need our police force back from the UK and placed under new management. Maybe Dart can get the tender and arrange for a public private partnership and bring in the right people and get the right laws [assed
Just took a look at his Facebook page, obvious unlicensed bikes and pictures of him wheeling. Sorry he asked for it.
There seems to be a thread among Caymanians in that they take no responsibility for their actions but are more than ready to attack the RCIP for misconduct.
Compare the reaction with this motor bike accident with the people lost at sea. There is no personal responsibility in either case and the fault is with the RCIP.
Unless and until people start being held accountable for their decisions and the consequences for those decisions the country will remain dysfunctional.
The job of a parent is to teach right and wrong, responsibility and accountability. What does it mean to be a man in this culture to make babies only?
Would he be in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Food for thought…all against the actions of the police; had this been an older ” hardened” caymanian criminal, a Jamaican or Honduran rather than a 20 year old caymanian would you all feel the same way? Our caymanians have a backwards way of thinking and parents are the enablers!
The police are not at fault here, this guy’s fate was the reaction of his own actions and bad decisions…whether he had played a part in the robbery or was trying to ‘run the police boys’ as the bikers always do and speak about with pride it was a bad decision not to pull over when asked to by the police(who were doing their job)
agreed…. This “young man” is 20….accountability people !…..his actions led to this….stop enabling…..before you know it its gonna be someones else’s fault that this man cannot get a job bc of his record…smh
Why hasn’t RCIPS identified this person,or released his identity, as yet?
If you’re chased for GT to lantern point by police helicopter and don’t stop, I pity the fool that thinks there aren’t going to be serious consequences involved. XXXXX
His mom goes “my son wouldn’t be involved in anything like that”, yet her son was riding a bike with no insurance, no plates, that was why he was fleeing and wouldn’t stop for the police. Hey Mom and Dad, if the bike has no plates, no insurance maybe you can also give advice on to him not to ride it until….I am sure you both were aware he was riding the bike illegally….sorry you play you pay!!! We can blame the police for alot of things, but when a police car is chasing you with sirens, you need to stop. He brought this upon himself!
In appreciation to the sharing of the circumstance, I just want to say I do not appreciate the story that is being publicly shared as it is causing a lot of grief on MYSELF! The amount of people who had added remarks due to the unjustified situation is unfair. NOT only to his reputation but to HIMSELF, to Me as his sister and not to mention his Parents! I am very upset with what has been posted because the Investigators cant release any information to us, why are they releasing anything to you all. Who should be the major concern should not be the public. My brother is not a criminal. In this case, I would be too, and a lot more people would be too. I am so sorry that this had to happen but I can tell you one thing.. I am thankful! Thankful for health and well-being in his condition he was put in, THANKFUL that you all did what we as a community have to see. Our police force is not here to protect us. They are here to manipulate an innocent person for doing what they do. For what not only one person enjoys, but many… Riding is not just a thing. It is definitely a lifestyle. It is a life of controls and risks! Something we all deal with on a daily basis. I am so ready to fight this situation because for one: YOU all are posting boogusness because of the information given by the same people who done this to him. I AM READY TO HEAR WHAT WILL BE SAID WHEN THE MOON FALLS AND THE SUN IS SHINING ON THE WILL OF THE LORD. IN CHRIST NAME WE WILL BE JUSTIFIED.
I FORGIVE THE NEGATIVENESS ON BEHALF OF US ALL. Rather than you all having nothing good to say i cant blame you all because you are being informed incorrect and unjustified information from the people in which keeps our law. I pray GOD PLEASE BLESS THE CAYMAN ISLANDS. You all need it. WE good over here, even with the circumstance and the situation you put our family in. WE WILL BE JUSTIFIED. Remember this name and face. You hear from me again.
Lollllll scary
I feel your pain and I am praying for your brother and family. Cayman people and others you need to stop spewing such negativity. Where is your compassion people. This could well be your son. I am disheartened just reading some of these comments. I pray one of these days all of you commenting won’t be on the receiving end of such negative comments one day. This family is hurting, they’ re no criminals , the young man made a mistake out of fear. I’m sure you all have made mistakes right? I’m not saying blame the police I’m just saying show some Cayman kind that is so proudly spoken of , show some compassion to the family and PRAY for the young man. God Bless you all.
Hello. While i understand your frustration and emotions i must state the obvious.
He was not stopping when signaled to by marked police units. He made the wrong choice.
Second point is whether the motorbike and rider were licensed and insured.
What about the parents? Did they know?
The risks you refer to are risks the actions the rider takes which not only endanger himself, but others. That is what makes anyone illegally riding – no lights, no insurance to pay for any damage that gets done if it all goes wrong, the stunts that increase the risk to pedestrians and other motorists – both morally wrong and guess what, yes, a criminal. “Manipulate an innocent person” – because the police made your brother do the things he did, right. Well I guess he wont be putting innocent people in danger as a result of his adrenaline seeking behaviour for a while.
To Courtney, if your brother was such a law abiding citizen why was he riding a bike that was uninsured and licenses? If he didn’t, then we wouldn’t be blogging on him…..so hence he was in a place that just got robbed, speeds away on an unlicensed bike….sorry we can’t blame the police of this one. You can only blame him for what has happened, not the police
Look. If this is your family you shouldn’t even be commenting. If the police is. Not giving you any information that isn’t an issue but more of an advantage. Silence is golden ya hear.
Further you are obviously emotional and emotions tend to kill logics. What do you mean the police drove him to flee like a thief in the night? Come on even if my papers are not up to date I am not running from any police because I am not a criminal per se but I may be breaking the law. Maybe he fold because his papers were not right? Then I blame your parents for raising a fool. He is Cayman not some other .. not where the police force is so corrupt they kill for fun. Never flee from the police only criminals think teh police isn’t there to protect them. Now go rant using A method that can’t be evidence and come off the ppl dem newspaper
If he was riding an unlicensed dirt bike on a public road then as it turns out, he is in fact, a criminal. Whether you like it or not.
The fact he broke the law (probably repeatedly) by driving an illegal motorcycle on public roads makes him a criminal. As for saying that riding is a lifestyle, that’s like condoning gangs.
I think you may be mistaken when you say your brother is not a criminal. He was riding an unlicenced bike without insurance. He also failed to stop when requested by the police. I think you’ll find that isn’t the behavior of responsible and law-abiding members of society.
Well. Since the parents of these kids, on these bikes wont take hand of their kids, then I will say this as a warning.
Take hold of your child. Take away these bikes.
People are sick of hearing, seeing and being victims of these little out of control kids.
If the parents cant control them, they will be taken from you.
These bikes are on the roads illegally. So it stands to reason that if they are involved in an accident, no matter whose fault it was, then because they should not have been on the road in the first place, the riders of these bike will get the blame.
If enough of these bikes have accidents, with consequences for both the rider and parents (the parents can be held accountable if it is proven that these under age kids were keeping the bikes at home and the parents knew they were riding them on the road) then the parents will ensure their kids arent on them.
Espeacially for the ones in the Savannah area. It used to be so quiet here until the little knuckle heads moved in the area.
I think there is too much of a possibility that this is not the armed robber. Sounds like one of those annoying bike nuisances but not necessarily linked to the robbery. Did they find a gun on him ? Now we are knocking potential suspects off their vehicles – seems reckless.
Is his physical appearance the same as one of the robbers? Was he dressed in the same exact clothes as one of the robbers? If the answer to those two questions is yes, and the police spotted him coming from the direction of the scene of the crime at a high rate of speed, I might be inclined to believe that the police have one of the robbers.
Naive you have used the correct name.
This goes out to those that are against the police.
If you run from the police the police will think you have a real reason to run. The one thing we know with some degree of certainty is that the bike rider attempted to evade the police.
Was he the robber? Hell I do not know. The police probably did not know either and when they attempted to apprehend he attempted to evade. The results speak only to police attempting to apprehend someone who at the time was breaking the law and seemingly part of a robbery.
While I do not condone out and out murder of someone who has broken the law I do not criticize police for attempting someone who has broken it. Much less all criminals should know that if you attempt to break the law there is a chance, however small, that you could lose your life. This is a fact.
Parents of criminals consider yourself warned. Take your children in hand and hold them accountable not the people we pay to put their lives in harms way on a daily basis so you can sit flat on your tucus and be irresponsible parents.
Their blood if she is on your hands. You have your chance to steer them right and you are failing them.
Thats all I have to say….peace out.
Fact: There are a hellova lot of lousy parents out there.
He does not fit the description nor was he wearing long sleeve dark clothing at the time of the accident!!!! This is INCORRECT information!!
He should not have ran regardless of the circumstances but the police are extremely wrong for this.
I hope justice is served for Roger and the truth comes to light.
Like beach-buggies, dirt bikes should be banned in Cayman. I see them all the time on the roads, no registration, no insurance, no lights, just a middle finger to the police and all decent drivers. Get them out of here!
They are banned. Trouble is, the police hardly ever seem to impound them, and when they do, they let the kids steal them back again.
There is one special idiot that does wheelies at high speed on Abby Way, with a small child behind the handlebars and no helmets.
Weekly armed robberies!!!!!!! These Caymanians have to go!
Excuse me? How can you say these Caymanians have to go? Last time I checked this was OUR country. I personally don’t mind immigrants coming in to the country, but remember this is our island, not yours.
This is our problem now, with the influx of immigrants. Years ago certain people from other countries were not allowed to land, because of their known bad conduct/behavior that they protrayed. We were all living in harmony, peace and quiet, until the flood gates opened to any and everybody.
BS. There were machete fights at domino bars decades before the much ballyhooed status grants. There have always been some bad apples. Truth.
You should leave if you feel that way you ungrateful racist parasite. As a Jamaican we are the only expats that put in a lot more hard work than any other expat living in these islands.I personally experience a lot of racism from other expats than I did with some locals and if you can show me a country that doesn’t have crime I’ll run around the whole of cayman naked!
So true! Caymanians are a nuisance in the fair isles. Just give up and leave it to the expats who have the Cayaman Islands best interest at heart. This Cayman style parenting of giving kids everything and teaching them zero responsibility is messing up everything good about Cayman. Expats teach their kids common sense, responsibility and a respect for authority. Caymanians must go, go find another island where you can all go fishning on Sunday and play fool and go drinking the other days.
Many years ago, Grand Cayman used to be like Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. You could literally leave your windows open at night without the fear of someone breaking and entering. Grand Cayman’s crime rate increased along with the population.
I’m so sorry you feel this way about Caymanians, but again, this is our country. You have no right to say who has to go and who doesn’t. If you don’t like the way our country the way it is, go back to your own. Immigrants need to stop trying to change our rules and customs just to fit their needs. We do not go to your countries, spewing out garbage about your people. Have some respect, and be grateful that we opened up our home to you.
I highly doubt that this suspect was involved with the armed robbery.
Let me explain the article above reads “When police arrived on the scene just after the incident officers saw a man speeding away on a dirt bike on Harbor Drive”. Sounds plausible, but when have the police ever arrived at a scene moments after an incident to see a suspect fleeing??
Also, I saw the suspect speed past me and he looked a lot like the same guy with a shiny silver helmet I see all the time riding up and down recklessly. Why would someone ride their own bike and wear their own helmet to an armed robbery? Stranger things have happened I guess. Someone could have stolen his helmet and bike.
I believe he was just at the wrong spot at the wrong time and figured he was being pursued for his other reckless actions in the past. That shiny silver helmet is hard to forget.
My two cents.
Don’t matter! It was his choice not to stop and clarify the situation and it was his choice to be illegally on the road in the first instance! If it is the same guy I have seen many times riding around in Savannah he clearly didn’t have any concerns for his own savety or anyone else’s.
As expected the family’s reaction is a head-in-the-sand approach and blaming someone else.
The only person who is responsible that he is where he is and that his family is experiencing this grief is the guy himself.
Saw this idiot and his friend riding against traffics the day before on walkers road as people were picking up there kids.
Sure the other one they are looking can been seen on the CCTV cameras riding if they were working. Lol
What is going on with the crime in Cayman? When will they get tough? We are considering moving there but now having second thoughts.
“What is going on with the crime in Cayman?” It’s getting to be more and more of it as time goes by. My advice to you, Mr. Vesper: Find a better place. Cayman is on the way DOWN.
The robbery sounds like a very similar incident to those that occurred recently at Al La Kebab and Al Fresco. I hope this possible link is thoroughly investigated. I have some friends who were victims in one of those robberies and they are traumatized. We have got to get these thugs off the streets. I don’t know about everyone else, but I don’t want my children growing up in a society where this is commonplace.
30 years minimum if your caught with a gun, 50 years if you use a gun or weapon to commit a crime. Simple, no one will take a chance then.
Problem is only very few are ever caught abs successfully convicted
I find it sickening to see that so many people neglect the fact that they have no proof that the individual was involved in the robbery. Everyone is acting as if it was him. Ignorance is a fool’s bliss they say.
I am nt sure what you are reading but most if not all said they doubt it is him however his actions were illegal San him not being the robber
If RCIP, and the limp a$$ courts do not crack down now, and crack down hard we can all kiss our tourism product bye bye. WTF is CIG thinking?
Who foots the bill for this idiot???
There will be a segment of the local population who will find fault with police for the injuries sustained by this robbery suspect. It is regrettable the robbery suspect chose to ignore police calls to surrender himself to the law.
I saw the dirt bike at the scene and I’m pretty sure it is the same one I’ve seen popping wheelies on the road with no regard to anyone. Hopefully they makr an example of him. Make him pay to fix the police car too.
You obviously have no regard for whether or not the individual is okay or not. The police should not have knocked him off of the bike purposely, i don’t care if he was osama bin laden. it was wrong to knock him off.
You are correct I don’t. He had no regard for me riding around illegally, he could easily have hurt someone. If you chose to livr your life that way it is your problem, police had every right to knock him off, if yhey didn’t someone else was going to.
That should have been your child. You are absolutely disgusting to make a comment such as that without haVing any evidence. Also, there are hundreds of other bikes on this island the “idiot” you’re referring too could have been anyone. Know your facts & watch your mouth.
It wouldn’t have been my kid. My kids have been brought up properly and reapect the law. If thr police tried to stop them they would do what a good citizen would do and would stop. But you do raise a good point, I the parents should also be charged in these cases as they are as much at fault.
You’re ignorant by thinking that any child is incapable of doing wrong because of the way the parents raised them. That’s the problem with you half of the comments on this post, you think that you’re better than everyone else. The most prestigious, successful and wealthy individuals are often the ones that have children on drugs and drinking underage and perhaps even driving around illegally. Don’t get me wrong I am not defending the fact that he wasn’t wrong for running the cops and breaking the law but let’s be real at some point he would have had to have stopped, they still had no right to hit him off his bike. (Which mind you is illegal) Because the police finally “do something” about the “crime” in the community y’all are so quick to jump on the “great job police” bandwagon. Recognize that just because they are law enforcement doesn’t make what they do right. Once again, don’t judge because you don’t know the facts.
I don’t either.
so when he is driving so recklessly and smashes into a car or scares a car and it hits a poll killing an innocent 3 year old inside who’s fault would that be?……the police need to protect the people that choose to live their lives with integrity and morals….you wanna race around…hell yeah u deserve to get knocked off…. its the other drivers the bikers should be thinking about……we don’t care that u pop wheelies or drive fast without a helmet but we do care if you hit a rock and smash into us …….killing us…dont you get it!!!!!
dash cam video in all patrol cars ?
Yes please, to protect the innocent, be they cop or not.
Great work RCIP! Thank you!
Sounds like something that you would watch on Cops!
Sorry ! you wont watch this one!
The family of a friend of mine was caught up in this attempted armed robbery. It was their first visit to Cayman and not the experience we all hoped they would enjoy on this beautiful island. It is time to get tough on crime. I beseech the Governor and the Government for more funding for better policing, a greater police presence on the streets and tougher penalties from the courts.
What kind of scum votes a thumbs down to that comment?
Good suggestion, but it will only happen if the Government will sit down with the opposition and independents to discuss and help formulate a plan with the RCIP going forward. The present COP supported by the Governor and the Premier prefer to resign rather than have this important discussion. Crime is overtaking the island but the Premier prefer to go running to the Uk to pacify the irrelevant leader of the opposition in the House of Commons. If we don’t get the crime under control quickly there will be no financial center.
I hope the police in car are okay!!
Dam
I am deeply saddened by the state of events in these our beautiful Islands. Equally disappointed by the many who seem to be biased in their comments on a site where everyone has the democratic right to express their opinion. We are all privy to the information shared so there is no way to confirm what really happened. In the interim we must be unbiased and call a “spade a spade”. If individuals live their lives recklessly and have no regard for residents in our communities or visitors to our Islands then must know that such reckless behavior can have dire consequences.
Put the robbery aside in this instance. If you are riding the bike and the police signal you to stop, if you have nothing to hide then stop simple. We would also be singing a different song if this individual in his reckless quest to get away injured or killed someone. Families drive together and they could have been injured or killed equally. Case in point the Parsons family years ago. Four killed in one family. Don’t know how we expect the police to execute their job if every time something like this happen, they are seen at fault. Eventually they are gonna get fed up because it is a case of “damn if you do and damn if you don’t”.
Please don’t get me wrong they have failed many times and we know of many cases and we are impacted negatively. However, we all have a responsibility to do our part and we should endeavor to instill the knowledge in our kids from early that if live recklessly you will die the same way. Some of these young adults don’t work but have the most expensive shoes, clothing, jewellery, dirt bikes, phones, etc. They become obsessed with these things because they have never been taught the value of hard work to achieve even the basic.
Guilty by association, show me your friends and I will tell you who you are. How many on this site stand up and decide that certain friends can’t even come to the gate if they are known to be out of control and indeed reckless. Warning to their children if you continue to be friendly with that person despite warnings and you get in trouble you are on your own. Equally how many of us see the kids in our communities behaving in a ways that causes concern and turn a blind eye. A little talk and a nudge can sometimes help. We don’t know what they are going through and they sometimes just need support.
A village can raise a child or children. We are all in this together let us do something to help. No matter how insignificant it may seem. Let us start with self and stop the blame game. How can we make a difference. Reach out and touch a life positively. I have evidence that this works. I have saved the lives of many young people in our communities. I dare to make a difference. Let us start today by posting something inspirational or prayers for our young people in these our communities. No bashing or disrespectful comments. God answers prayers.
All our negative comments end today. Let us change the way we use this medium. Pray for the police and for this young man to overcome his medical challenges and last but not least the businesses who are suffering from all this and the negative impact on our Tourism Industry from which we all benefit. To the criminal elements out there. A life of crime will take you where you are going. Nowhere! Stop now. Make a change today. We pay to transport overweight bags on a flight so therefore why do you al choose to carry baggage around? Crime is heavy baggage get rid of it.
Typos in the above post. Replace in a ways (with in ways that cause) and replace then with (they must know).
Thank you, Purpose Drive, for your post. All the accusations and negativity are just splitting our country further apart. Certainly the young man did wrong, even if he was not involved in the robbery. But the tragedy in his life and his family’s life is real.
Let us pray for him, his family, and all the young people in this country (the future of this country) who are not fulfilling their God-given purpose and are acting out dangerously in fast cars and bikes, in crime or drugs. Let us pray for transformation, for a complete change in values, so that Cayman will become a tidal force for positive change in this world instead of being pulled down in the rough currents of this present time.