By Latrishka Thomas
Police were instructed yesterday to find and arrest a police officer, accused of firing 12 shots at a vehicle with two occupants, after he failed to show up for his court hearing.
Karim Warner was the alleged shooter in the incident near Emerald Cove Resort in Willikies last December.
The incident, which occurred on December 3, involved Warner reportedly firing the shots at a white Toyota Mark X occupied by a couple from Hodges Bay and Liberta.
According to police reports, the conflict arose from a dispute over a leased vehicle. The male complainant had allegedly refused to return a vehicle leased from Warner, prompting the officer’s attempt to reclaim it.
This confrontation escalated when Warner allegedly fired a dozen shots at the occupied vehicle.
Investigators are said to have discovered evidence supporting the allegations, including bullet holes near one of the rear door handles and spent shell casings around the vehicle.
The accused officer is charged with discharging a firearm in a public place and assaulting both occupants of the vehicle he allegedly fired upon.
Warner pleaded not guilty to the charges in March and was scheduled to stand trial.
In addition to issuing a bench warrant for his arrest yesterday, the prosecution served the case file and Senior Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel set the trial date for November 26.
