Marvin Dames, Minister of National Security. Photo: Terrel W. Carey Sr/Tribune Staff
By Leandra Rolle
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Marvin Dames has called a recent police chase that led to two men being killed in a car crash “unfortunate” and “tragic”, adding it’s never easy when “someone loses their life.”
While he said the matter is under investigation, Mr Dames told reporters it is not “uncommon” for police chases to end badly.
“If you watch the news, you would see in the United States and other places, these high-speed chases that (happen) from time to time, end in disaster. If not disaster for the persons who are being chased, it’s some innocent civilian standing on the side of the road,” he said.
“Or some driver going about their business trying to get to their destination or even a law enforcement officer.”
“And so this is very dangerous business especially on the streets of our nation and our streets are very narrow, but persons, young men in particular, continue to take these risks.”
“I am not going to speak to that matter because, of course, that matter is certainly under investigation and we’d have to let the courts at the end of the day make some determination as to what transpired.”
According to police, officers were acting on information shortly after 9pm on Sunday when they visited the Golden Gates area and observed a silver coloured car that was occupied by two men who were behaving suspiciously.
Speaking at the scene, Chief Superintendent Craig Stubbs told reporters: “Officers on mobile patrol attempted to stop a vehicle, a Nissan Note, silver in colour, suspected of being involved in an armed robbery. The first attempt by the officers, the vehicle failed to stop.
“It led police on a high-speed chase from the Carmichael Road corridor to Golden Gates #1 subdivision, East Street, and came back around. The vehicle at the time was travelling at a high rate of speed.”
Police said the driver lost control, ran into a concrete wall on the western side of Baillou Hill Road, near Moonshine Drive, and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The passenger, officers added, was taken to the hospital where he eventually died from his injuries.
While acknowledging that losing a loved one is never easy, Mr Dames was clear that his ministry will not stop its efforts to combat crime across the country.
“It’s a very tragic situation and anytime someone loses their life, no matter who they are, it’s very unfortunate and I would again warn the young men out there especially who feel that living a life of crime is the only way to go,” the Mount Moriah MP added.
“And there are consequences and in this small country of ours, we will not sit back and allow a handful of misfits to run rampant though this country and to terrorise innocent, hardworking Bahamians.”
“That is not going to happen…and not under this government.”
“We would’ve recently signed a contract for the use of body worn cameras and dash cams and it’s an incident like this that will certainly allow the public to see exactly what happened, how it happened and why it happened… because at the end of the day, it’s all about transparency.”
Meanwhile, as it relates to other crime matters, the security minister urged members of the public to notify the police if any suspicious activities are seen happening in their respective communities.
The Tribune recently reported that in the last several weeks residents in both eastern and western New Providence have complained about increased burglaries in their communities.
Quiet gated communities such as Palm Cay, Treasure Cove and Sandy Port have also reported several of these incidents to police.
Speaking on the matter to reporters on Friday, Mr Dames said: “Crimes of this nation, as always, are of a concern and I get constant updates from the Royal Bahamas police force.”
"And I believe that they are following many number of leads. Where those leads will end up, we just have to wait and see but this is the world that we're living in today unfortunately."
"And I continue to say to members of the public that anytime you see anything, remotely looks suspicious, you pick up the phone and call the police and let's deal with it."
Comments
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 2 months ago
" he said the matter is under investigation, Mr Dames told reporters it is not “uncommon” for police chases to end badly."
Mr Dames is probably a nice man, but some of the things he says are beyond puzzling..." it's not uncommon for chases to end badly... exavtly!!! That's why they've been discontinued in progressive cities. They realize the danger such chases present not only to the people being pursued but to the public at large. Someone please find Greenslade
birdiestrachan 4 years, 2 months ago
No GAMES is TRAGIC The treatment of senior police officers lies at his door step.
Spiteful and mean spirited is the order of the day.
How many persons have died from police shootings since he became the Minister?
He is campaigning he wants to keep his job.
themessenger 4 years, 2 months ago
The question begs bird brain, why flee from the police at high speed in the first place if you have nothing to hide? That sort of behaviour in any country would draw police attention to you like flies to sh..t! Stupid is what stupid does.............................
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 2 months ago
We need to get away from brute force policing. in other cities they strategize, they estimate the route the perpetrators will take, set up roadblocks or use tools like spikes to slow them down. chases are extremely dangerous. Imagine you're driving your kids to school and the police side swipe you shooting at some assailant who shooting back at them. nobody wins.
bahamianson 4 years, 2 months ago
Someone had two or more lives?
birdiestrachan 4 years, 2 months ago
.This is the way it is done. If the license plate was on the car. The officer would put the information into the computer. which would tell them who owns the car and their address. They could have gone to the address. they could also give out the description of the car to other officers.
Nassau is to small for high speed chases it could cause the Death of many.
Sick one I am a Eagle I Soar very high.
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 2 months ago
Our entire legal system is meant to lean on the side that it's better for a guilty person to go free than for an innocent person to be found guilty. But in the case of these most dangerous high speed police chases it's quite clear that Simpleton Dames believes it's better for a guilty person to be caught even if it means killing one or more innocent persons in the process.
bogart 4 years, 2 months ago
The entire system must be revised, not the bandages stop gaps that endure for decades. Seems these actions just operate within bandwidth allows for some to have in comfort while majority cones to suffer down spiral, increased VAT Taxes imposed to provide new police cars, reburishing century oul Police Stations at old locations whole denograpicsv shifted.
Known data are the island are around 80 Square miles....lakes, swampland, unlivable areas are some 30 square miles, commercial offices, stores etc occupy sone 20 square miles......and the livable areas homes where people can be found are some 30 square miles. Really really really really for decades the Sovereign Commonwealth of the Bahamas cannot find tiefs, culprits, illegal immigrants, illegal dopers, PREVIOUS ILLEGALLY OPERATING GAMBLING HOUSES...illegally operated hackers planes,....illegally Customs Merchants cheating Customs,....illegal sweethearthers making young girls pregrant........illegal anyting...anytime....anywhere....in Nassau...?????
Yes public done know that illegal anyting cant be found because the system is currupted by Pastors pleading for plain wutless, Politicians, influencers, lawyers, elites, friends, lovers, no prosecution or locating employers of illegal labour, pleading for wutless. The entire system cannot be changed by existing parties existing decades just wanting to tax an tax for more bandages stop gap measures. Cancer or surgery needs stronger treatment measures to make life living again, cant operate within same currupt bandwidth and see changes.
joeblow 4 years, 2 months ago
It is difficult for a police car chase to ensure without suspects running first. Seems senseless to allow them to escape with and then dispose of contraband.
I am more concerned about the daily ritual of police and prison officers ripping through traffic carrying their human cargo on narrow streets with sirens blaring like idiots. That is more of a public safety concern to me than the occasional "car chase".
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 2 months ago
the problem with these chases is neither the police nor the culprits care who they hurt in pursuit of their goal. They are extremely dangerous for pedestrians and motoring public. The idea isn't to just let the culprits get away, it's to have systems in place to track and get ahead of them. Let's say the police see a suspect... They contact headquarters and say suspect was last seen at XYZ location, headquarters gets on the CCTV system, maybe also deploys a drone to the area, police cars move to get ahead of the culprits to block them off... it's strategy and technology working together. no chase necessary
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