Police Caution Against False Crime Reports

Details

police

Thursday, 28 February 2013 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's - Police have chided some media houses for misleading reports on Wednesday regarding a hostage situation at Mill Reef.

The reports came in response to a widespread Blackberry Messenger broadcast suggesting that victims were being held at gunpoint and robbed at one of the private Mill Reef Club homes.

“It was far from the truth and I am really disappointed in that broadcast and that it was carried by the media,” said Police spokesman Inspector William Holder on Wednesday afternoon.

He said the police had long denied the reports to be fact and had cautioned that the media allow the police to first investigate and confirm the matter before a nationwide broadcast. This request was not adhered to.

Holder said the hostage situation was actually a break-in in progress that was witnessed by a housekeeper. He said the female resident ran and locked herself in a room and called the police instead of confronting the intruder.

When police arrived on the scene it was found that a flat screen television as well as video equipment were missing.

There was no report of injury and no arrests so far. Police investigations are ongoing.

“We are partners with the media and they can find out from us before creating more fear than what is already in the public domain at this time,” Holder said.

The fear referenced is in regard to the spate of gun crimes plaguing the Antigua and Barbuda community for the past several months, the most recent and shocking incident on Tuesday with the brutal murder of a mother of five in the Heritage Quay duty-free shopping area.

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