The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) has launched a manhunt for Five Cays man McAllen Washington Gardiner after an alleged gun confrontation in that community on Monday.
According to the RTCIPF, at about 12pm that day, a team of officers from the Tactical Unit was conducting routine patrols in Five Cays, Providenciales, when upon reaching an area known as Reece Street, the officers observed a parked, unsecured vehicle.
"An officer attempted to approach the vehicle, but stopped short when a man alighted from within a nearby premise, ran to the vehicle and removed an object that the officer believed to be a firearm. He pointed said object in the direction of the officer and in response the Police Officer discharged their weapon," a news release from the RTCIPF stated.
Gardiner, who the RTCIPF said was known to them, managed to make his escape probably unhurt in the dense, mostly unplanned community.
"The male suspect, who is known to the police fled the scene and escaped. It is not believed he was injured and no police officers were injured in the incident. Investigations are continuing," the police said.