Movie director arrested for shooting police officer

Rinny Simons, 27, a movie director of Galleywood, has been arrested by the Police for allegedly shooting a police officer at Sege in the Ada West District.

Simons, who is said to have been on the run after the incident was arrested on Thursday July 2, 2015.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, the Tema Police Regional Public Affairs Officer, said the victim, Lance Corporal Felix Nartey was on duty at the Sege Rural Bank, when about 1730 hours, Simons and her accomplice, 67-year-old William Akuffo, Director of Galleywood, had a disagreement with some people a few metres from the Bank, where the police officer was on duty.

ASP Obeng said L/Cpl Nartey, who managed to intervene and calm down tempers, got information that Simons had pulled out a pistol when he was returning to his duty post.

She said Simons, by then was in a yellow Hummer belonging to Akuffo, and was shooting at random hitting the policeman in the left thigh in the process.

ASP Obeng said also injured was Mr Joe Fudzi, an earth moving vehicle (grader) operator with the Songo Salt Project, in the right rib and a guard of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), who was hit in the foot.

She said the two suspects fled the scene after the incident, whilst the victims were sent to the Battor Hospital where L/Cpl Nartey is still receiving treatment.

ASP Obeng said Akuffo was arrested at his residence at Galleywood, at Dawa, where a search in his room revealed one blue empty pistol case with the name Smith and Wesson, and 16 packets of cartridges containing 25 pieces each.

"Police also retrieved the pistol, which was used for the shooting, hidden under cement blocks, packed near an uncompleted building some few meters away from Galleywood, after a thorough search", she said.

ASP Obeng said investigations were still ongoing after which Simons and Akuffo would be put before court for prosecution.

She commended the public for assisting the Police with information leading to the arrest of the suspects.