America street cambio robbery probe Taxi driver held -cops set up road blocks Stabroek News September 25, 1999 A driver of a city taxi service was yesterday held by police in connection with Wednesday morning's shooting and robbery spree on America Street, which left five persons injured and several, millions of dollars poorer. Stabroek News understands that the man who was arrested early yesterday morning is suspected to be the driver of the car which was used by the bandits, one of whom was killed in a shoot-out with police. Yesterday, police acting on a tip-off went to a house at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara where one of the bandits was said to have stayed on Thursday night. However, the old building was empty and police set up road blocks along the East Bank public road and on the West Bank as well. These road blocks were manned by members of the Tactical Services Unit and Target Special Force, as well as regular police ranks, all fully armed. Vehicles proceeding to the eastern end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge were stopped and searched. Unconfirmed reports say that police also had an active presence on the East Coast Demerara. During and after the robbery, which was said to be the most terrifying the country has seen, the bandits sprayed America and Water streets with submachine gun fire, injuring five people among them a police officer. The men still firing led police in a chase through the city to the back of North Ruimveldt. They abandoned their car and hijacking a tractor, which was being operated by Harold Narine and his assistant Danram Persaud, forced the men to take them to Mocha. At Mocha they were confronted by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF)/Guyana Defence Force (GDF) joint corps. There was an exchange of gunfire, during which, one of the bandits Terry Madhoo called 'Rusty' was shot and killed. The three men, who are believed to be led by Linden London called 'Blackie' a former member of the GDF Special Forces successfully evaded the joint services dragnet in the canefields and escaped. However, a source told this newspaper that a special unit had been put together to capture the men regardless of how long it takes. The source said some members of the GPF were "red-faced" at the successful escape of the men. A © page from: Guyana: Land of Six Peoples