Five Police Officers attached to the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch unit have been placed under close arrest after opening fire on a car being driven by another Police Officer on Monday night.

While the Guyana Police Force has not released the names of the ranks under close arrest, it explained in a statement that Police Sergeant Ronald Payne was on his way home in the Republic Park, East Bank Demerara area on Monday night after completing a shift when the Special Branch ranks, who were reportedly looking for a dark coloured Toyota car in relation to a murder probe, spotted the Police Sergeant’s car and opened fire.

The Guyana Police Force claims that the Special Branch ranks opened fire in the air and ordered driver of the car to stop.

However, the terrified Policeman drove his car to the Providence Police Station. It was only after he exited the car at the Providence Police Station that the Special Branch ranks realise it was one of their own.

The Guyana Police Force said several spent shells were recovered from the scene. News Source understands more than 30 shots were fired in the direction of the Policeman’s car.

The Special Branch ranks who were all dressed in civilian clothes, had their weapons taken away from them and placed under arrest, pending an investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility.

News Source has learnt that the Special Branch ranks never identified themselves, and opened fire on the Police Sergeant’s car without any warning, believing that the car matched the one they were seeking in connection with a robbery/murder case that they claimed they were investigating.

A full probe is underway.

This latest incident follows the shooting death of a Police Sergeant at an interior location by a Police Constable. The Police Force claims that the shooting was “unintentional”, but the matter is under probe.

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