Nurse suspected of aiding criminals arrested
Nurse Amani Critchlow
A nurse suspected of providing medical services to criminals was arrested, yesterday, at her place of work, the Georgetown Public Hospital.
This publication confirmed from medical professionals yesterday that just before 16:00 hrs police swooped down on the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit and arrested Nurse Amani Critchlow while she as on the job.
Police working on what they deem to be credible intelligence were able to positively identify her as a nurse who has been rendering medical assistance to known wanted, gunmen, who were injured during a robbery in November.
A break in the investigation that led to her arrest followed the recent incarceration of one of five men who were involved in a robbery committed on the owner of Yog Yog Frozen Parlour, Nicholas Coates.
The robbery victim was Gail Russell’s son, Nicholas and it occurred on November 23. He was shot after five bandits invaded his home in Bel Air Park.
Nicholas Coates, 30, of Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park was shot to his knee when the bandits barged into his house and started shooting at him. He was taken to the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
One of the bandits was shot in the ordeal while the men made their escape in a yellow car. They managed to steal a cell phone.
Russell told Kaieteur News that her son, a young entrepreneur, was home alone in his apartment when the incident occurred.
He was having tea in his verandah when five men rushed through his open door. Coates immediately threw his cup of tea on the bandits and ran into his bedroom to get his gun and in the process was shot. While the bandits were trying to pry their way into the room, Russell said her son grabbed his gun and returned fire.
“We called 911, 913 and whatever and it all ring out. The police came 45 minutes later,” she noted. Since then police have been investigating the matter.
Sources close to the investigation said the nurse was arrested after police gathered intelligence that identified her as a nurse who provided assistance to injured gunmen away from the hospital without reporting.
The nurse had to be well known because while the gunmen were fleeing they were heard complaining about being shot. One of them spoke of being put in trouble and immediately recommended that they go to ‘Christy’. This suggested that the nurse was known to the criminal underworld and was a first choice in the case of gunshot wounds.
“Such action can lead to charges such as Accessory to Crime after the fact because she looked after a wanted man and did not report it and the man remains wanted.”
According to reports, police arrived at the hospital and after consulting with the hospital internal security arrested the woman despite resistance from one doctor who argued that they were acting outside the necessary protocol.
When contacted, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had no immediate comment as except to say that investigations are ongoing. He also confirmed that a Nurse was indeed arrested and that investigations are continuing.
