Harris-Moore is at the front of the line up heading in to the police station.
PRESS RELEASE BY: MR. ELLISON
GREENSLADE, QPM, MBA COMMISSIONER
OF POLICE DATE:
Sunday 11th July, 2010
On Sunday 4th July, 2010 the Royal Bahamas
Police Force received information from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation’s Country Attaché at the US Embassy Nassau, that a
fugitive wanted by United States Law Enforcement had reportedly stolen
an aircraft and was believed to be headed to the Bahamas. Acting on
information, Bahamian Police Officers on the Island of Abaco commenced
an intensive search of the island with a view to locating the missing
aircraft and suspect.
Officers
subsequently received additional resources from the capitol city of
Nassau Bahamas, including man power along with the police Canine Unit
and other assets. Officers were able to locate the downed aircraft
fitting the description in swamp land in the Sandy Point Abaco area.
The search, which lasted for all but
seven days, came to a successful conclusion on Sunday 11th July, 2010 at
Harbour Island Bahamas. Sometime after 2:00am on the mentioned date,
acting on information received from members of the public, the police
responded to a sighting of the suspect on Harbour Island. The suspect
in an effort to evade capture engaged local police in a high speed chase
by boat in waters leading to Whale Point, in the Eleutheras. After a
brief chase, the suspect was taken into custody without incident.
Police Officers were able to confiscate a firearm and other items of
evidential value.
Gunshot holes in the engine of the boat
I am pleased to say that the suspect,
who has been positively identified as Colton Harris Moore, aka ‘The
Bare Foot Bandit’ was flown to the capitol city of Nassau Bahamas under
police escort and remains in Police custody. It is expected that he
will appear in court on arraignment later this week, to answer to a
number of criminal charges. I also wish to advise that the suspect was
seen by a local doctor, shortly after his arrest, and appeared to be in
good health.As this matter and
others connected thereto, are under active investigation, we are unable
to say much more at this time. Notwithstanding, I wish to thank the
dedicated, professional, hardworking men and women of the Royal Bahamas
Police Force in general and in particular, those officers on the islands
of Abaco, Eleuthera, Harbour Island and New Providence for their
outstanding efforts in capturing this elusive suspect, who has been on
the run for well over two (2) years.
Our officers, are afforded the best training
opportunities, which, coupled with their commitment to their oath of
office and a fierce loyalty to the people of the Bahamas, allow them to
compare extremely well with law enforcement personnel anywhere in the
world.
Similarly, I wish to thank the Bahamian Government for
reposing confidence in the Royal Bahamas Police Force in the execution
of our duties. We also commend our American partners and the American
Embassy here in New Providence for the timely sharing of information in
matters of mutual interest.
Finally, to the Bahamian people and
residents of the Bahamas who are the eyes and ears of the Police, we
thank you for your collective will in protecting your communities and
the borders of the Bahamas, thereby, ‘Making the Bahamas a safer place
to live , work, visit and play’.