A San Juan man, who was labelled a priority offender, was killed by police during an alleged confrontation at his home between Sunday night and yesterday morning.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Operations, Curt Simon, has already assured that all footage captured by the body cameras worn by officers involved in the incident will be carefully reviewed, as an investigation has been launched.
The man has been identified as Dale Baird, 50, of Laventille Road, Febeau Village, San Juan.
The anti-crime exercise, which was carried out under the TTPS’ Violent Crime Reduction Plan, as well as the Emergency Powers Regulations 2024, resulted in officers from the San Juan Police Station conducting a search of Baird’s home from 10 pm on Sunday to 2 am yesterday.
Acting on information that Baird had illegal firearms and ammunition, officers arrived at his house at 10.50 pm and reported hearing suspicious noises coming from inside.
As officers entered the premises and began searching, they entered a bedroom on the western side of the house and reportedly found Baird, clad only in a pair of shorts, standing between two beds armed with a shotgun, which he allegedly pointed at them.
Instructing Baird to put down the weapon, officers opened fire when he refused to.
Officers allegedly recovered a shotgun next to Baird, whilst a second shotgun was found on the bed.
Baird was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where he was pronounced dead.
Two 12-gauge shotguns, six live 12-gauge cartridges and eight 9 mm spent shells were recovered.
Referring to the incident during a media briefing yesterday, Simon extended condolences to Baird’s family and friends. He said an ASP had been appointed to lead the investigation into the police killing.