Sixteen suspects  in police custody at the  Tema Community 22 Police Station broke cell at dawn yesterday and escaped from lawful custody when a police officer attempted to send food to one of them.

Two of the suspects were later re-arrested by the Tema night patrol team, with the other 14 still on the run.

The Tema Regional Police Commander,  ACP  Augustine  Gyenning,  who confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic, said the Officer, Sgt. Rockson Baffuor, whose alleged negligence led to the escape of the suspects, had  been placed in police custody while investigations continued.

He also  appealed to the  public to assist  in re-arresting the  runaway  suspects by reporting to the police any suspicious movements in their areas.

ACP Gyenning  said  on Sunday, September 20, 2009  after 6 p.m. when the cells at the Community 22 Police Station had been closed, a boy aged about 13 years  went to the station with a bowl of food for one of the  suspects.

He said  the Station Police Orderly requested that the boy bought a plastic bag  into which the food could be poured  and  passed through the peep hole for the suspect.

Commander Gyenning said  the boy  left  and did not return as a result of which the food could not be given to the suspect.

He said  when the  Orderly’s supervisor, Sgt.  Rockson  Baffuor,  reported to work at about 9 p.m.,  he (the orderly ) reported the incident to him  but his supervisor,  Sgt. Baffuor,  decided to  give the food to the suspect.

According  to Commander Gyenning, Sgt. Baffuor  ignored  the advice of the  Orderly  and proceeded to open the cells  at that hour without any precaution and presence of  armed guard.

ACP Gyenning said on opening the cells, the suspects  pushed  Sgt. Baffuor down, trampled on him and took to their heels in different directions.

He said the suspects had their cases before the courts and some were to appear in court yesterday. Commander  Gyenning,  who described  the  incident as shameful  because of the status of the officer involved, said  the suspect who was to be given the food was a robber being tried by a  court.

He said Sgt. Baffuor  would be investigated  and, if found culpable, would be made to produce the suspects  within 10 days.
Commander Gyenning said if he was not able to produce the suspects within the stipulated time, he would be made to face service inquiry. The police have also intensified their search for the cell breakers.

Tags: and-escaped, broke-cell, cell-at-dawn, community, custody-at-the, from-lawful, General, police, police-officer, police-station, send-food