By Alexander Bruzual Monday, September 7 2009

An acting police corporal was arrested yesterday for the second time in relation to the discovery of arms, ammunition and drugs at the St Joseph Police Station on August 8.

Andrew Barrow is expected to be taken before a Tunapuna magistrate today to answer ten charges of misbehaviour in public office, all of which stem from ongoing investigations into the weapons and drugs discovery at the station. Justice of the Peace Ackbar Khan signed the warrant for arrest on Saturday afternoon, and at about 6 am yesterday morning, approximately 11 warrants were executed against the officer at his home in Arouca. He was then taken to the Tunapuna Police Station.

However, the JP placed a conditionality in the warrant for the corporal’s release on a bail valued at $600,000. Barrow is one of 38 police officers who were transferred from the St Joseph station after the cache was discovered in the ceiling of the building. He is now attached to the Arima Police Station.

This is the second time the acting corporal has been arrested, as he was originally taken into custody on August 13 by officers of the Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU). Barrow was expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate, however he was released from police custody without being charged.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner of Police Gilbert Reyes, confirmed the arrest, explaining it was the first result of a complex investigation into the incident.

“So far, only one officer has been charged. There may be others, but the ongoing investigation is a complex one which must be seen through before decisions can be made against officers,” Reyes explained.

He asked for the public to bear with the investigating officers and understand the intricacies of the situation, reiterating once again the Police Service was committed to weeding out all its “bad roots”.

“We have to be absolutely sure when we bring an officer before the court.

Otherwise it will just go on and if the matter is dismissed because of a lack of evidence, people will say the police corrupt and covering up for their own. We do not want that to happen, we are taking all precautionary steps,” Reyes explained. The Assistant Commissioner added the investigation into the discovery of weapons and drugs at the St Joseph station will continue, especially since another similar discovery was made less than a week ago again at the station.