Maho: -- A police officer Isel Doran and brother of assistant chief commissioner of police Ademar Doran barely escaped death on Saturday midday when the suspects of an armed robbery fired shots at him as he approached the scene of the crime.
At least four armed bandits wearing helmets entered into Gold Creations in Maho, where they held the storekeepers at gun point prior to breaking the glass case with a hammer and stealing an undisclosed amount of jewelry.
According to eyewitnesses, a female tourist flagged down the cop who was passing through Maho at the time and informed him that an armed robbery was in progress. The officer whom this reporter learned was working alone at the Simpson Bay outpost immediately turned around to intercept the robbers when he was confronted with the shots.
Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard who was on the scene said one of the robbers who was standing at the door saw the police pick up and he began pounding on the door to inform those inside that police was in the area. Leonard said when the two bandits inside saw the police they immediately fired two shots at the officer. One of the bullets grazed the vehicle while the other shot barely missed him and landed on the showcase of Riveria Too Ice Cream parlour shattering the glass case. Leonard said back up officers arrived on the scene and managed to arrest three of the suspects who initially escaped from the first officer. Leonard did not release the identity or nationality of the suspects on Saturday. The police spokesman said one of the culprits locked himself in the bathroom in the La Terrasse Hotel.
Police managed to get the suspect out and arrested him, while the second suspect Leonard said jumped off the second floor of the Maho parking lot breaking both his legs. The young man the police spokesman said is from St. Maarten and he was taken to the St. Maarten Medical Center under police guard while a third suspect was caught as he tried to escape in a get away car, police is on the hunt for a fourth and possible fifth suspect the police spokesman explained.
According to an eyewitness and visitor to the island said, she saw the entire ordeal, which left her shaken. The woman said it has been years she has not had a vacation and she came here to relax with her family only to be confronted with a near death situation. She said they saw when the robbers enter in the jewelry store, they literally saw when the shots were fired, and they ran for cover. The woman said she was with her son and his girlfriend who began running when they saw the robbers began firing shots at the police officer, she said they even jumped over a wall to avoid being shot at.
The owner of a nearby business said he was standing outside of his shop and he noticed two black men wearing helmets entering the shop. The businessman said shortly after he heard the men saying, “Move” and within seconds, he heard a huge bang. “When I heard that I immediately realized what was happening so I went back into my shop and pulled the shutters down. I then called one of the employees of Gold Creations who confirmed to me that they are being held up at gunpoint. I immediately hung up and called police.”
The businessman expressed his concerns and fears for their safety he said the incident occurred just around midday on Saturday when there is a lot of people moving around in the Maho area. He said the bandits are vey brave and they are not even looking to rob people in secluded areas anymore, these thieves are attacking during high day and in busy areas.
On the scene were several detectives investigating the case including head of detectives Krips were seen picking up spent shells in Riveria Too Ice Cream Parlour. Police Spokesman Johan Janchi Leonard said police confiscated two motor cycles that were parked in the parking lot of the Maho Sonesta Hotel, they also managed to recover some of the stolen jewelry, which was in the pockets of the suspect that jumped off the second floor of the parking lot. Police also recovered the hammer that was used to break open the glass case, as well as the car that was used as the gateway car. The police spokesman is expected to release more information on his case sometime over the weekend.