Antigua-Barbuda: Two charged after high-speed police chase

Two people taken into custody following TWO high-speed chases in Antigua last week have now been charged with connection with the incident.

Stacey Barthley, 34, and Saliem Harrigan, 26, have both been charged with unlawful possession of a 9mm gun and one .22 round of ammunition.

Both are residents of Green Bay.

Barthley was further charged with perverting the course of justice by making a false statement.

The pursuit began last Wednesday after police and members of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence force noticed people inside a white Toyata Mark-X travelling fast on Bendals Road.

According to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, the occupants of the vehicle were “acting suspiciously”.

“This led to a high-speed chase which ended on Bendals Road, after the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed it into a wall, and the occupants fled the area on foot,” police said in a statement.

Trip to KFC

Following the first chase, officers were involved in a further high-speed chase with the driver of a beige Toyota Corolla car.

“The driver of that vehicle was signalled by the police to stop, but he refused and drove through the police cordon,” police said.

“The chase ended in Nut Grove, after he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a fence and also escaped.”

Both Harrigan and Barthley were taken into custody and a search warrant on their Grays Farm home was executed, where police found two rounds of ammunition.

Prior to Barthley being arrested, she made a report to the police that she was robbed of her white Toyota Mark-X by two masked gunmen on Marble Hill Main Road, around 8.35pm that evening.

“She reported that she left home to go to KFC on Fort Road; however, she ended up on Marble Hill Main Road and was allegedly accosted by two armed bandits, whom she said stole her vehicle and drove away in it,” police added.

“Investigations into her report have proven to be false, and it is believed that her report was concocted to mislead the investigations.”