On Saturday a routine check for drunk driving turned into a violent incident that could see officers and civilians charged for various degrees of harm.
It happened at the junction between Monkey River and the Southern Highway when PC Gonzalez reported that he and a fellow officer had been involved in a shooting incident while carrying out their duties.
It's a serious matter that the commissioner has ordered an investigation into and tonight ASP Fitzroy Yearwood breaks down the incident to give us a recap of what exactly went down at that checkpoint.
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Officer
"The Monkey river and Southern highway junction traffic personnel that are posted at the PG town, Punta Gorda town traffic department requested police assistance because they believe that a vehicle that approached the checkpoint, the driver was intoxicated. So, we know that two police officers from the Bella Vista substation, PC 1899 Jerrison Jones and 1720 Oscar Chiac responded, no. When they arrived at that checkpoint they met traffic officer Gonzalez who briefed them as to his findings. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Wilmer Ruiz, who was asked to alight his vehicle. Mr Ruiz was informed that a breathalyzer test would be administered to determine whether or not he was under the influence because a strong aroma of alcohol was smelt in that vehicle. The officers reported that Ruiz followed them to the traffic department vehicle but the other two passengers also followed. The police are saying that they asked the other two gentlemen to return to their vehicle, they were identified as Alex Ruiz and Edwin Ruiz. Well, the officers said that Alex was advancing towards them and he fired a warning shot in the air and Alex kept in his advancing motion. The officers claim that a struggle insued between Ruiz and Alex Ruiz because the gun, during that struggle the gun went off several times injuring Alex Ruiz, Alex was transported to the Polyclinic in Mango Creek and then later transferred to the southern regional hospital where he was treated and released yesterday. We know that the comissioner immedatly ordered an internal as well as a criminal investigation into this report and the outcome of that will be made available later today."
Police are anticipating that charges will be levied against Officer Gonzalez.
ASP Yearwood wouldn't say what those charges would be today but did say that they would be determined by the medico-legal forms issued to certify Ruiz's injuries.
The charges against Mr Ruiz will be determined by the officers that have taken over the case.
