Chanderpaul released after shooting incident
WEST Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was apprehended in a road block in front of the Sparendam Police Station, East Coast Demerara, Tuesday night, following a shooting incident on the Georgetown seawall. A brief Police statement late yesterday said cops were investigating a "shooting incident" involving Chanderpaul and a Policeman "where the Policeman is alleged to have been shot by Chanderpaul." The statement said the Policeman received injuries to his left hand and was not hospitalised. Police sources said Chanderpaul and a 16-year-old girl who attends a city secondary school were in his four-by-four vehicle on the seawall when the shooting took place between 23:00 hrs and midnight. The vehicle was reportedly parked between Camp Road and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T) compound. Reports suggested Chanderpaul, a licensed firearm holder, mistook a group of cops for bandits and fired at them after lights were directed at his vehicle. But Police sources said investigations were continuing. Chanderpaul reportedly sped away from the scene after the shooting and the cops fired a round from a shot gun in the direction of his vehicle. The Police patrol pursued the cricketer as he headed east along the East Coast Demerara road and he was stopped at a road block at Sparendaam. He was taken to the Brickdam Police Station, and after giving a statement, was released on his own recognisance. A Police source said Chanderpaul's vehicle, PFF 3620, too, was released, since the young man is an international cricketer and well known. Several persons reported seeing Chanderpaul and the young woman in the vehicle prior to the incident. Contacted by telephone at an East Coast Demerara residence yesterday, Chanderpaul referred the Chronicle to Senior Counsel, Mr. Edward Luckhoo, who he said was representing him in the matter. However, the lawyer declined comment. The Chronicle understands the wounded cop was hit by a bullet between his left thumb and index finger. Sources said the uniformed policemen were travelling west along the sea wall road in a vehicle when they stopped and approached Chanderpaul's `4 Runner' pick-up during a usual patrol. Unconfirmed reports said that Chanderpaul fired the shot from the driver's side window. Nearing Sparendaam, Chanderpaul was in the line of vehicles as Police stopped the flow of traffic in what appeared to be a hastily set up road block about 23:30 hours. Uniformed ranks with rifles patrolled the area and stood guard as others drove around the general area in an open back four-by-four van. Another van raced to the scene with plain clothes ranks and went straight to Chanderpaul's 4x4. The Police extracted Chanderpaul, frisked him as he stood with his hands over his head. He was dressed in a white track suit. Similarly, his female companion was taken out of the front seat and frisked. The Police proceeded to search the passenger area of the vehicle accessed by the rear doors. Eventually Chanderpaul was ordered to open the back door. There was a sports bag in the trunk area. It was searched, after which one plain clothes rank exhibited what appeared to be a pistol. A routine unloading safety drill was carried out by the rank and he extracted a loaded magazine. The Police then ordered other vehicles to move off, leaving Chanderpaul's vehicle there. 
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