PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — This afternoon, at approximately 15:20 PM, an incident involving vandalism on a KPSM vehicle and attempt assault on a police inspector Mr Josepha that occurred A.C.J. Brouwers Road. The head of the KPSM Communications Department, Inspector Josepha, was operating his department vehicle when an unidentified rider on a black scooter, dressed entirely in black, pulled alongside the vehicle. Without any apparent provocation, the rider kicked the left front passenger-side mirror, causing it to break. After committing this act of vandalism, the suspect fled the scene on his scooter.
Inspector Josepha continued driving along A.C.J. Brouwers Road. Upon reaching the Harold Jack lookout point, the same suspect was spotted parked in the area. As Inspector Josepha approached the location, the suspect threw a stone at the vehicle, shattering passenger side front window and the and back side windows of the police vehicle. The suspect then fled again on his scooter in the direction of Union Road, towards the French side of the island.
Inspector Josepha attempted to retrieve his service weapon to detain the suspect but was unsuccessful in his efforts. Immediate assistance was requested from other patrol units, and coordination with the French authorities was swiftly initiated.
Thanks to the strong and effective working relationship between the Dutch and French law enforcement agencies, the suspect was quickly apprehended by French authorities after a brief chase on their side of the island. Subsequent investigations revealed that the suspect was also wanted by the French authorities for a series of armed robberies.
The suspect is currently in the custody of the French authorities, where he will face charges related to today’s incident, as well as his involvement in previous crimes.
Reports of the damage to government property and the assault on Inspector Josepha have been submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office for further action.
This incident demonstrates the continued commitment of the Dutch and French authorities to work together in the fight against crime on both sides of the island. We are grateful for the swift and effective response of our French counterparts, and we remain dedicated to maintaining the safety and security of our community.
