Suspect dead, Police firearm retrieved
A known suspect in possession of a police issued firearm was shot on Thursday and the firearm retrieved during a police raid at his home at Jail Village near the Beon CS facility in Madang Province.
Bethuel Warel, in his mid thirties of a mixed parentage of Madang and East New Britain Provinces was shot dead after he fled during the raid and opened fire at police officers with the police issued Galil Ace rifle.
Madang Provincial Police Commander Mazuc Rubiang says the police issued firearm went missing after an accident in 2017 where three policemen were swept away with their vehicle by floodwaters while attempting to cross the Tapo Creek.
He says the only police officer who survived the accident at that time placed the firearm on the river banks during the ordeal with the thought of getting it after the floodwaters subside.
However, before police got to the location, the firearm was stolen and since then was not returned to police.
PPC Rubiang says when police established reports of the firearm being in the possession of the deceased, they negotiated with him to hand over the firearm but to no avail for almost two years.
He says the deceased suspect with his associates used that particular firearm to commit very serious offenses including armed robbery, arson, break and enter and stealing.
On Wednesday afternoon, police received reports that the suspect held up a Beon CS officer and his wife, where he and his accomplices stole from them K400 with their shopping goods valued at K100 including other personal items such as mobile phones, NID and Banking cards.
PPC Rubiang says the deceased suspect also pointed the rifle at the CS officer and threatened to shoot him, then discharged several rounds of ammunition into the air.
Upon tip off of his whereabout Madang police conducted the dawn raid on Thursday morning resulting in the suspect’s death and the stolen firearm retrieved.
FM100 / PNG Today
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