Todd used ammunition from Mackenzie ranks during Linden shooting – Sergeant English

Linden inquiry

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Patrick Todd, on the day of the Linden shooting, not only used “stores” from the rank of the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), he also took CS cartridges from a rank of the Mackenzie Policed Station Anti-Crime Unit, according to Police Sergeant Roger English.

Sergeant English was at the time testifying at the commission of inquiry being held to investigate the shooting to death of three protesters at Linden on July 18. “At the (Mackenzie) Police Station, I made a physical check of the stores that the ranks were issued with and four cartridges were short from Constable Rodney’s weapon, one CS (hand grenade) that I was using was also short; two CS from Lance Corporal Bruce was short and 11 1.5 cartridges was brought back by Constable Dhanraj and he was issued with 20,” English said. “… he informed me that it was used at the bridge by ASP Todd because their stores was cold”, he added.
However, during his testimony, Todd maintained that he took cartridges from members of the TSU and never stated that their stores were cold. English said that sometime around 15: 00h, they were told to uplift the riot stores from the Mackenzie Police Station and to be on standby to fall in with the TSU Unit.
“We were told that we were to prepare for the eventuality that we may be called upon to go on the road and Constable Whyte was issued with one gun with 20 1.5 cartridges; Constable Dhanraj with one gun and 20 1.5 cartridges and Lance Corporal Bruce was issued with two CS hand grenade and Constable Rodney was issued with two CS hand grenades… I was in possession of one hand grenade along with my firearm that I would have uplifted about 13: 00h,” he said.
He added that the instruction to uplift their stores was given by then E& F Division Commander Clifton Hicken. He said that the rank on duty who issued them with the arms was Constable Mark and that was done sometime around 16: 00h. He said that following the upliftment of their arms, they were briefed about the situation in the mining town. “We were advised to stand alongside the Riot Unit and we would be called upon if there is any need to report any disturbances anywhere in the working distances,” he said.
English told the commissioners that his unit sprung into action sometime around 17: 30h when he received a call from Hicken informing them that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) building was on fire. “The GRA building which was east to where we were at the time was on fire, and as such, myself, Constable Rodney, Lance Corporal Bruce and Constable Robin walked through a side track from the eastern end of the bridge and gained entrance to the compound, where the GRA building was located… I observed a crowd of about 80 persons, they were on the roadway and when they saw us, they began hurling indecent abuses at us. I attempted to put out the fire that was set on the guard hut and then I observed the building was on fire. That was about 17: 40h and I called Commander Hicken and told him of the events that were taking place and that we were not able to put out the fire because we were attacked by stones and bottles, and we had to take cover at the side of the building.
“He then instructed us to use tear smoke. Lance Corporal Bruce was in possession of two tear smoke canisters, so I instructed him to use one which he did and the crowd eased up, but they came back. I informed Senior Superintendent Hicken about the situation and he gave me instruction for Constable Rodney, who was in possession of a shotgun, to discharge a round. I told him to discharge it in the air because the crowd was pretty close and we did not want anybody to receive injuries or lose their lives,” he related.
He said that after the shot was fired in the air, the crowd then dispersed and they were able to get the fire out. He added that approximately five minutes after they were finished, they heard a loud explosion and shouts of fire. He said that he then called Hicken and informed him that the Linmine Secretariat was on fire. “As I arrived there, we observed about 50 persons running towards the building, in what I suspected was an attempt to vandalise the building. I shouted on them to disperse and remove from there and we assisted in removing some vehicles that were in the building. We were again abused and they started throwing stones and I then informed Commander Hicken and a tear smoke was again released by Lance Corporal Bruce and the crowd then ease up and they return. I spoke to commander and he then instructed me to use the shotgun and Constable Rodney then discharged a round and the crowd didn’t disperse, and we were unable to do anything. The fire by then had seriously engulfed the building,” English recounted.
“I then received another call from Commander Hicken and he would have informed me that the PPP (Peoples Progressive Party) office, which was located a stone’s throw away from the five corner, was engulfed. We went on foot because the vehicle could not be activated because the road was blocked, so myself and four ranks responded. On arrival, there were about 100 persons in the vicinity of the five corner and roughly there were 50 persons in the compound at the PPP office. I called on them to remove from the compound and they did not. I then informed Hicken that the fire service was unable to pass through and I was seeking permission for Constable Rodney to discharge from his firearm to see if he could have the crowd cleared.
“Permission was granted and a round was discharged and persons started to leave the area, and as such, we were able to get the fire service to come through and we remained in the area as they put out the blaze,” he added.
He said that they had the fire under control, and he along with his ranks, had to remain for about half an hour to 45 minutes with the fire service ranks because they were afraid to be left alone. Speaking about the events leading up to the fires, English said that ASP Todd and his unit along with him and his unit left the Mackenzie Police Station at the same time. He said when they arrived at the Wismar/ Mackenzie Bridge, ranks from the TSU disembarked their vehicle and they went into riot formation. “There were two ranks who were holding a banner at the front of the unit. ASP Todd was in possession of a loud hailer of which he sounded a siren and then shouted the proclamation, which is ‘His Excellency, the president of Guyana charges that persons assembled are unlawfully assembled and you should go to your private place of habitation… was done about five times and the siren was sounded,” he said.
English stated that after Todd read the proclamation, there were about 40 persons who heeded while several persons were heard shouting expletives at the police. He added that they started hearing explosions about 10 minutes after the proclamation was read. He noted that the explosions were heard coming from the eastern direction of the Wismar/ Mackenzie Bridge, and this appeared to incense the crowd as they began to hurl bottles and stones at the Riot Unit.
“ASP Todd then discharged cartridges from a CP gun and they appeared to be cold and some did not ignite and the crowd started to advance towards the rank and… they kept advancing and throwing whatever they had,” he said.