ASSISTANT Superintendent (ASP), Rovin Das is now under close arrest after shooting 46-year-old Bertrand Robertson of Rebecca’s Lust, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Monday night and for also allegedly hiding a quantity of Marijuana under a tree.

Police reports indicate that at around 23:30hrs that night, the officer was returning to Georgetown from Berbice when he felt sleepy and decided to park his vehicle in the corner of the Fair Field Public Road, ECD, to rest.

He alleged that he was subsequently awaken by someone knocking on the window glass of the driver side, where he was seated and he lowered the glass and saw the suspect (Robertson), who enquired as to his presence there, to which he explained.

After the explanation was given, the suspect allegedly removed the car key from its ignition and as the officer attempted to retrieve it, Robertson drew a hatchet so the officer immediately drew his service revolver and discharged two rounds hitting him in the left ankle.

Robertson was escorted to the Mahaicony Hospital where he was treated and sent away. The officer is assisting with the investigation. The weapon along with two spent shells recovered at the scene and the hatchet have been lodged.

Meanwhile, it was a twist of tales when the Guyana Chronicle visited the home of Robertson.

Speaking to the Chronicle, the victim disclosed that crime has been on the increase in the area, so along with a few other villagers, he formed a vigilante group.

And, on the night of the incident, he alleged that he was driving when he noticed the vehicle, driven by Das, pulling over to the corner of the road at Fair Field. “We getting a lot of robberies in the area these days, so when the vehicle pulled over, the lights came off and someone came out, I decided to stop and see what the driver’s motive was… after quite some time went by, I went off to get two more of the villagers so that we can go speak to the diver,” said the victim.

However, upon approaching the car, without any questions being asked, the officer allegedly lowered his window and discharged two shots at the men, both of which struck the victim.

The men subsequently ran away from the car and contacted the police, said Robertson, but when they turned to look, Das was allegedly acting “suspicious” and seen hiding a parcel under a nearby “sucker tree.” Later when police visited the scene, they found a parcel of marijuana, which has been lodged at the police station. The officer is being investigated for both the shooting and the discovery of the drug.