Report by Bettie K. Johnson-Mbayo, [email protected]
Monrovia – The Liberia National Police (LNP) has confirmed that two of its officers were killed on Saturday and Sunday. The police also disclosed that the suspects associated with the killings, are in their custody.
Police spokesperson Moses Carter said officer Moses Bedell of the Police Support Unit (PSU) was hit on the head by suspect Darius Wilson when he (Bedell) had gone to sympathize with his relative who lost his son on the 4th of May 2018.
He said suspect Wilson accused one Alvin of stealing his cell phone, threatening to disturb the gathering.
The Community Chairman, Mr. Nathaniel Slogan, told him to remain calm since he had reported the matter to them but he demanded the more.
“Suspect Wilson became violent adding that he will not listen to anybody, this is how officer Bedell intervened and urged the suspect to calm down telling him that his phone will be found.”
He continued: “Suspect Wilson said no one could arrest him. He became arrogant, so the officer held him by his shirt to put him out of the gathering. In the process, suspect Wilson pulled out a knife from his pants. The knife was taken from him by one Konneh Prince and turned over to the Community Chairman.”
Carter further narrated that the accuse also took a rock and hit officer Bedell on the head while his (Bedell’s) back was turned.
The late officer sustained injury on his head and was rushed to a local clinic and later transferred to the JFK Hospital where he died while undergoing treatment.
Suspect Wilson, in an interview with this newspaper, admitted to the act, but said his action was due to anger.
“I threw the rock; I didn’t know that it will kill him.”
Wilson, who is the father of two children, has urged his peers to desist from violence adding, “It was my temper that led to me to this cell today, no one should solve problem by anger.”
Another officer identified as Patrolman Cornelius Stewart was killed in a motor car accident on May 6, 2018 on First Street, Tubman Boulevard by a Blue Toyota Bus marked B10093.
Carter said preliminary traffic investigation revealed that the officer was riding a red Bajah Boxer bike from central Monrovia to Sinkor while the bus was traveling to the opposite direction when they collided.
As the result of the accident, officer Stewart sustained serious bodily injury, he was rushed to the JFK hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Meanwhile, the operator of the bus Moses Kollie is currently in Police custody undergoing investigation.