Jul 14 - Three RGP Officers Injured In Tobacco Incident

Shortly before 3.20am on Saturday 11th July 2015, RGP officers were alerted by officers of HM Customs as to a locally registered suspect vehicle believed to be involved in illicit tobacco activity.

Minutes later the vehicle in question was seen driving at speed along Devil’s Tower Road, the driver of which failed to stop despite repeated instructions to do so. A chase then ensued which led officers towards Sir Herbert Miles Road on the approach to The Caleta Palace Hotel where RGP officers blocked off the road with a marked police vehicle.

In his attempt to drive past the police vehicle, the driver, later identified as 30 year-old local Kevin Rodriguez of Constitution House, Glacis Estate, unemployed, drove towards two officers who had positioned themselves to one side of the police vehicle and were signalling Rodriguez to stop.

One of the officers dived to one side to avoid being hit by the on- coming vehicle whilst the second officer was hit with a glancing blow from the vehicle which left the officer lying injured on the side of the road.

The vehicle came to a halt a short distance away whereupon Rodriguez attempted to flee from the area on foot. Upon being challenged by police he resisted arrest and elbowed an officer in his face, causing swelling and bruising to the officer’s eye. Rodriguez was subsequently restrained and taken into Police Custody.

Rodriguez was later interviewed by Police and kept in Police Custody over the weekend. He was subsequently charged as follows;

•   Two counts of Causing Harm by Furious or Wanton Driving

•   One count of Assault on Police

•   One count of Driving Whilst Disqualified

•   Three counts of Dangerous Driving

•   One count of Driving a motor vehicle whilst not covered by a valid Policy of Insurance

•   One count of Unlawful possession of a Commercial Quantity of Tobacco without a Licence, namely 120,000 cigarettes of various brands

•   One count of Unlawful transportation of a Commercial quantity of Tobacco without a licence, namely 120,000 cigarettes of various brands

•   One count of Unlawful possession of approximately 1.3 grams of Cannabis Resin

•   One count of unlawful possession of a radio Transceiver without a Licence

All three injured RGP officers were conveyed to St. Bernard’s Hospital where they were shortly after released after being treated for various injuries of a non-life threatening nature.

Rodriguez appeared before the Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning where he entered guilty pleas to the majority of the charges against him. He has been remanded into the Custody of HM Prison until the 3rd August 2015 pending a Pre-Sentencing report.

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