Homeless man on window smashing rampageBy Nalinee Seelal Thursday, January 31 2013
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ALSO DAMAGED: Pedestrians walk past two glass panes which were replaced at Scotia Bank on Independence Square, Port of Spain. The two panes replaced t...
A 45-year-old homeless man, who smashed four large glass panes at the Parliament Building located at the Waterfront, another four glass panes at the Independence Square Branches of First Citizen’s Bank (FCB) and Scotiabank, was nabbed shortly after 5 am yesterday, with a bag containing a quantity of rocks.
The man was expected to be charged with three counts of malicious damage. Police investigators told Newsday yesterday they will be recommending that the suspect be sent to the St Ann’s hospital for evaluation.
According to reports, at about 4.30 am the man armed with a bag containing rocks threw a quantity of rocks in front of the Parliament Building shattering the glass doors at the Wrightson Road entrance to the Parliament Chamber. The adjoining glass panels were also damaged. According to reports, the man then left the area and proceeded to Independence Square, Port-of- Spain, where he then smashed two glass panes at the Independence Square branch of First Citizen’s Bank, and then proceeded to Scotiabank where he again smashed another two glass panes, at the side of that bank. According to reports as the man was fleeing the scene with a quantity of rocks still in his possession WPC De Gazon and PC Lezamma of the Port-of-Spain CID who were on patrol were alerted to the rock throwing incidents, and quickly nabbed the suspect.
The man was taken to the Port-of-Spain CID where he remained detained up until late yesterday.
Yesterday, Speaker of the House, Wade Mark, when contacted said that his communications department was preparing to send out a release on the matter, which was later sent to Newsday. The release stated: ”At approximately 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday January 30, 2013 an individual threw several rocks at the Parliament building at Tower D, causing damage to the glass doors at the Wrightson Road entrance to the Parliament Chamber, as well as the adjoining glass panels.
The individual then reportedly proceeded along Independence Square where similar incidents occurred at more than one location.
No one was injured at the Office of the Parliament during this incident, and we understand that the individual was apprehended by the Police. No further information is forthcoming at this time.
The Office of the Parliament is treating this as an isolated incident. Please be advised that the sitting of the Senate scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m. will proceed as planned with the usual complement of security on detail”
Officials at both FCB and Scotiabank said yesterday that they were in the process of repairing their broken windows while the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago UDECOTT was trying to source new glass panes for the Parliament Chamber.
