By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

SENIOR Royal Bahamas Police Force officials were embarrassed yesterday after a teenager escaped custody prompting an intense investigation of holding procedures at the Grove Police station.

The 13-year-old girl had been in protective custody at the station on Baillou Hill Road since Friday after it was alleged that she attempted to rob a clothing store in the Town Centre Mall with a shotgun.

After making her escape at 1:40pm, which police believe was through a bathroom window, it took authorities three hours to return the girl to custody. They said her family members, with whom she sought refuge, handed her over on Wulff Road near Montrose Avenue. 

Speaking to reporters during a press conference at 6pm Grove Station Commanding Officer Philip Wilson said officials intended to punish whomever was negligent in keeping watch of the girl.

“She was of course being attended to by the officers here on duty,” he said, “when she requested to use the restrooms. It was while she was in the restroom that somehow she managed to successfully evade police officers here and made good her escape.

“An all points bulletin was echoed throughout the Bahama land and all police officers were alerted as to this particular escapee.

“The internal investigation as it relates to what transpired here that led to this breach within police policy is still in progress. At the end of that exercise if there is evidence, we expect to discipline whomever is at fault and whoever was negligent.

“The internal side is being looked into and at the end of the day, (let) the chips fall where they may. Our Commissioner (Ellison Greenslade) of course is very stern when it comes to suspects being held in protective custody.

“On completion of our internal investigation by the complaints unit and the internal affairs section, yes I expect someone from my staff to be punished for what happened.”

Mr Wilson confirmed to reporters that the attending officer was a woman. Other police sources said the officer was relatively new to the police force.

When asked what officers at the Grove station would be doing to ensure that she did not escape again, Mr Wilson said they had stepped up surveillance.

“Trust me, she will not get away again. She is back here and locked down. Of course she is being attended to and eyes are on her once she has to leave that cell to utilise a rest room.”

He added that officials intended to soon wrap up their investigations into Friday’s botched armed robbery attempt and charges against her are to come shortly after.

As for her accomplice during the robbery, Mr Wilson was not able to give any details.