Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4739/-1/140/
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POLICE ISSUE COMPOSITE SKETCHES OF CRIME SUSPECTS Another Attack Reported At Shoal Bay
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In their weekly press briefing on Wednesday, May 16, the Royal Anguilla Police Force distributed two composite sketches of what some of the wanted criminals may look like. One of the drawings (No. 1) depicts the attacker on a victim at South Hill and the other (No. 2) gives an idea of the attacker who robbed and stabbed a Canadian visitor at a villa in Shoal Bay East.
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Deputy Commissioner Illidge Richardson and Commissioner Keithley Benjamin
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A third composite sketch of a bandit in another robbery case was withheld. Commissioner Keithly Benjamin explained that it had become “tainted”. Carefully choosing his words, he told the press: “The other one that I have will not be released because I think the witness may have been spoken to by someone [who was also a victim in another attack] and the description may have been tainted somewhat.”
Mr. Benjamin further said: “We are having some difficulty with members of the public who, under the guise of lending support to victims, may be frustrating the investigative process to some extent; and I think some of this may have come out in the preparation of the composite…It is all well and good for persons to give support to victims but we cannot endorse their interference which may amount to an obstruction of the execution of the duties of the Police. We applaud this support for victims and those who experienced similar attacks to talk to them, but not to try and taint their minds as to any incident that has occurred before. I am of the strong belief that some of that may have taken place.”
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Suspect # 1
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The sketches were done by a US composite artist on the basis of descriptions given by victims. The Commissioner of Police said efforts were being made to recruit some, either from the UK or the Caribbean, who have vast experience in the investigation of serial incidents which Anguilla is now experiencing to come and lend some assistance to the investigators. “There is concern that they (the local investigators) are somewhat stretched,” he said.
He has been in touch with the Overseas Territories Adviser who will be contacting experienced persons in England for assistance. Mr. Benjamin also has been in touched with the US Embassy Legal Attache in Barbados who has pledged assistance in terms of a behavioural scientist to provide a profile as to who may be the perpetrator(s) of the crimes. Meanwhile, some information has been sent to the FBI Laboratory for analysis to determine whether scientists need to make an onsite visit to Anguilla or would be in a position to create a profile.
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Suspect # 2
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“In essence, therefore, we are seeking outside assistance to try and curtail the criminal activities that have been ongoing for the last couple of weeks,” Commissioner Benjamin said. “I know a lot of fear has been induced in the community and we are particularly concerned about it. So this is by way of reassurance to the public that we are doing all that we can, and in the circumstances, to the extent that we are contacting our international partners to try to bring some [closure] to the crime going on at the moment.”
Deputy Commissioner, Illidge Richardson, reported on another incident in which a female visitor from New York, one of five Americans staying in a villa at Shoal Bay, was assaulted by an unknown assailant.
“Reports reaching the Police Headquarters indicate that about 5 a.m. on Monday, May 14, someone entered a villa that was occupied by a number of Americans. The doors were again unlocked and it would appear that the intruder, seeing someone inside, entered the room, attacked the lady and raped her …The lady was examined at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and was later discharged.”
The victim was grabbed from behind, in the dark, and was unable to see the assailant who reportedly had a knife. She was robbed of a small sum of money. The victim was the only person in the room. The others comprised a family in one room and a male in another.
Mr. Richardson disclosed that the Police arrested a number of persons under suspicion. Some were released while two others were in custody. “We will be looking for other persons seeing we now have profiles of three persons who are unknown to us. And we are asking members of the public, when these portraits are placed in the newspaper, to see if they recognise any of the persons and to call us at Police Headquarters 497-2333 extension 3242 where they will speak to Superintendent Proctor, who is leading the investigations.
“Incidents like these cause members of the public, Anguillians and visitors alike, to be very worried because it is a state of uneasiness where no sooner something occurs and when you think it is all over, you hear the same thing recurring. The Police are patrolling day and night, and mainly at night our presence is felt throughout Anguilla, but it would appear that the person or persons may be looking at isolated areas during the day and at night or early morning set themselves somewhere in the area.”
He appealed to the public to be alert and to report any suspicious persons or activities to the Police without delay.