The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

An 18-year-old man charged with endangering the lives of police officers yesterday claimed he was beaten by police while in custody. 

Aparachio Audley Davis was assisted by crutches as he stood before Magistrate Samuel McKinney to face charges of endangering the lives of two police officers during an incident on July 16. 

A large wound with stitches was also visibly apparent behind his right ear, an injury his attorney claimed was the result of being shot by police during the incident in question almost two weeks ago. 

Davis was charged with one count of possession of a firearm – a 9mm pistol, serial number unknown, with the intent to endanger the life of Corporal 2370 Bain, as well as another count of possession of a firearm with the intent to endanger the life of PC 3078 Archer.

Yesterday, Davis was not required to enter a plea and remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. However, Magistrate McKinney made a note for Davis to be given medical attention from the department’s medical staff.

The matter was adjourned to October 6 where a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI) will be read. 

On the day in question, Police Chief Superintendent Clayton Fernander told The Tribune that a man was in hospital after shooting at police in a bid to escape capture. 

The suspect, Chief Supt Fernander said, was on bail for armed robbery and was being electronically monitored at the time of the incident. He said the suspect was one of five people hospitalized as a result of three separate shootings that night. 

According to Chief Supt Fernander, two men were sitting on a porch at a home on Peach Street at around 10:30pm, when a champagne-coloured Nissan Note pulled up with three men inside who fired several shots at them before speeding off. 

One of the men was shot in his left thigh, the other in his left leg. The victims were taken to hospital, where they remained in stable condition. 

A few minutes later, police were in the Arawak Avenue and Campbell Street area searching for the suspects involved in the shooting, when they saw two men, who fitted the description, running. 

One of the men turned towards the officers and fired several shots. The officers returned fire, hitting one of the men who fell to the ground. However, the second man was able to elude the officers. 

The wounded suspect was taken to hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. 

None of the officers were harmed in the incident. However, Chief Supt Fernander said that despite the incident that endangered the lives of the two officers, police would continue their aggressive, albeit dangerous, fight against crime.