Two Grounded by Police in Grand Gedeh

At least two prison escapees were killed during an exchange of gun fire with Emergency Response Unit (ERU) troops of the Liberia National Police in Grand Gedeh County.

Police Spokesman George Bardue said the escapees opened fire at the ERU with arms they took from hunters while escaping from the National Palace of Correction in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County last Wednesday, October 3, 2012. He identified the escapees as convicts of armed robbery and other capital offences.

Bardue said the two prisoners killed so far, were among 14 of the 22 prisoners already re-arrested by the Liberia National Police after reportedly breaking jail at the Zwedru Correction Palace.

“Among the 14 re-arrested prisoners, two died from bullet wounds following an exchanged of gun fire with the Emergency Response Unit,” Bardue noted in a statement issued in Monrovia Tuesday.

Early this month, the police spokesman issued a statement on the alleged escape of the prisoners, announcing a man hunt by troopes of the ERU and Police Support Unit or PSU.

Despite the latest development, police authorities are yet to provide information on the circumstances leading to the alleged jail-break incident in Zwedru by 22 convicted prisoners at the correction palace.

In another development, a dismissed police officer identified as Solomon Browne has been arrested for impersonating after he was disrobed by authorities several months ago.

Police Spokesman George Bardue said suspect Browne was dismissed by the Liberia National Police for Absent Without Leave or AWOL, but did not state the actual month or date of his dismissal.

Bardue said the former police officer was arrested last weekend at the zone [One] Depot Three on Bushrod Island where he had gone to impersonate as a police officer during a criminal investigation. He said the fake police officer was arrested with “an ERU name tag” and the photocopy of his identification Card.

Bardue said the dismissed officer is currently detained for impersonating and will be charged to court shortly following thorough investigation at the LNP Central Headquarters. He revealed that Solomon Browne dismissed for contravening the 2008 Duty Manual of the LNP.

“The Liberia National Police will not tolerate anyone who uses the name of the police as a way to engage in criminal activity,” said Bardue.