By Leroy Smith

POLICE Sergeant Leonard La Rose of the Matthews Ridge Police Station in the North West District, Region One, was killed on Tuesday evening as he and two other ranks attempted to arrest a suspect.

Information reaching this publication indicates that Constables Lewis and Shultz (only names given) were injured during a confrontation with the suspect, whom they were attempting to arrest. They are said to be in stable condition.

A resident had reportedly informed the police that a 13-year-old girl had been raped by the suspect, and La Rose and the two other policemen had gone in search of the suspect. In attempting to arrest him, Sergeant La Rose was stabbed, and succumbed to his injuries.

It is unclear whether Sergeant La Rose died on the spot or while receiving medical attention for the wounds he had sustained.

Police ‘F’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram, confirmed that the incident had taken place.

Sergeant La Rose, who had enlisted in the Guyana Police Force in 1995, is reportedly from the mining town of Linden, while the other two ranks each have five years of service in the Guyana Police Force.

The suspect is in police custody, and is expected to be charged for murder.
Arrangements were, up to late Tuesday evening, being made to have Sergeant La Rose’s body transported to the City.