~ Cash found in abandoned SUV ~
PHILIPSBURG--Two armed men robbed the casino in Sonesta Great Bay Beach Hotel just before noon on Friday, escaping with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The men threatened to use their weapons and robbed the establishment, then fled the scene. Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Ricardo Henson said in a press release on Friday that it was unclear how the suspects had made their escape.
He said that with “the little description” police had of the suspects, one of the investigating officers had identified one possible suspect in the Sucker Garden area. When the suspect noticed he was being pursued by police, he tried to flee in a gold-coloured Mitsubishi sports utility vehicle (SUV). Police officers fired shots as they chased the suspect.
The suspect fled on foot in the direction of St. Maarten Zoo, leaving the SUV behind in the vicinity of BBW. Officers, including the K-9 unit, searched the area but did not find the suspect. A considerable amount of cash was found during a search of the SUV and confiscated for further investigation.
Henson said both suspects were at large and the police were requesting that anyone who might have any information concerning this case call the police via the tip line tel. 9300 or 542-2222 ext. 203, 204 or 205.
