In a brazen early-morning assault that has sent shockwaves through local law enforcement circles, a 50-year-old Crime Scene Investigator assigned to Trinidad and Tobago’s Northern Division was violently attacked and robbed of his brand-new SUV in Tunapuna on Tuesday.
The incident unfolded just after 3:30 a.m., as the veteran officer cruised along Auzonville Road in his privately owned Kia Sonet, a vehicle valued at roughly TT $220,000. When he reduced his speed near the Roslyn Hall community area, an unidentified assailant who had been hiding in plain sight behind a parked maxi-taxi launched his surprise attack.
Wearing a plain grey hoodie to obscure his facial features, the suspect lunged toward the driver’s side window the moment the officer slowed. He immediately locked the investigator in a chokehold, raining repeated blows to the man’s head before forcibly dragging him out of the idling vehicle onto the asphalt. A physical struggle unfolded along the quiet roadway, but the outnumbered officer—off-duty at the time of the attack—was eventually overwhelmed by the attacker.
Leaving the injured investigator lying on the ground, the suspect jumped into the SUV, reversed quickly down Auzonville Road, and fled the area before backup could arrive. First responding officers, called to the scene shortly after the attack, provided immediate first aid to the victim, who was left with non-life-threatening head injuries from the assault. After receiving initial on-site medical attention, the officer was transported back to his home to recover.
Police confirmed that along with the vehicle, the suspect made off with the officer’s wallet, which was left inside the Kia. The wallet held critical personal items including the investigator’s national identification card, driver’s license, and a bank card, putting the officer at risk of identity theft following the attack.
Local law enforcement has launched a full manhunt for the suspect, reviewing nearby CCTV footage and canvassing the surrounding neighborhood for any witnesses who may have seen the attacker or the stolen vehicle in the hours after the incident. Investigators are also working to trace the Kia Sonet’s movement as they pursue leads to make an arrest and recover the stolen vehicle.