The scene on Thursday afternoon near the Belvedere border.
BELVEDERE--Police and Gendarmes officials had “an incident” Thursday afternoon when a vehicle driving in French Quarter refused to stop during a routine traffic control conducted by a Gendarmes patrol. An orange car drove past the control and headed straight for the Belvedere border where similar controls were taking place by the Dutch side police Multi-Disciplinary Team.
Police spokesman Chief Inspector Ricardo Henson shed light on the incident and stated that the driver of the fleeing vehicle stopped his vehicle close to where the police controls were taken place. The Gendarmes continued their pursuit and crossed the border into the Belvedere area and approached this vehicle.
“Several armed Gendarmes stepped out of their vehicle and attempted to arrest the driver by removing him from the vehicle by force. The Multi-Disciplinary Team immediately intervened in the matter by informing the Gendarmes that they were out of their jurisdiction and if they needed any assistance they should contact the police.
“They were instructed to immediately refrain from any further actions or conducting any further investigation, which they did. In the meantime several other vehicles from the Gendarmes with reinforcements arrived on the scene. This spectacle attracted a lot of attention from drivers passing by and people living in the neighbourhood,” stated Henson.
The Gendarmes informed the officers on the scene that they were conducting an investigation and ordered the driver of the vehicle to stop for a routine control and to have the vehicle searched which the driver refused to do and took off at high speed in the direction of the Dutch side.
On request of the Gendarmes, a search of the vehicle was done by the Dutch side police and a small amount of marijuana was found. “The suspect was arrested on the spot and taken to the Philipsburg Police Station for further investigation.
“The suspect was brought before an Acting Prosecutor who informed the Prosecutor on call of the situation. There was at no moment any confrontation between French and Dutch law enforcement officers. After the suspect was questioned the and a hefty fine paid for the possession of the marijuana the suspect was released as there were no other legal reasons to keep him in custody,” said Henson.
