A 41-year-old police officer is facing multiple charges stemming from three separate matters after he appeared in court on Thursday 6th July 2023.

According to the TTPS: KURT SORZANO, appeared at the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court, after he was charged with Common Assault, Discharging a Firearm within 40 metres of a Road, Transferring a Firearm and Transferring Ammunition.

Magistrate Cheron Raphael granted the accused bail with a surety in the sum of $375,000, or cash alternative of $15,000. He was also ordered to stay 100 metres away from the victim and is to have no contact with the victim.

According to police reports around 10 pm on Saturday 25th February 2023, a woman was in company with a man at Manzanilla Beach, when the man allegedly pulled a firearm from a holster on his waist, pointed it in the direction of the beach, where she heard several loud explosions. He then allegedly pointed the firearm in the direction of a nearby coconut tree, where several loud explosions were again heard. The man then allegedly gave the firearm to the woman and made her fire off several rounds of ammunition.

The next hearing is scheduled for 3rd August, 2023. SORZANO also appeared at the Tunapuna Magistrates’ Court, after he was charged with Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, Rape and False Imprisonment. Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes granted the accused bail
with a surety in the sum of $115,000.

Police reports indicate that around 7 pm on Saturday 4th February 2023, a woman packed her personal items and attempted to leave a man’s home, when he allegedly chased her while on the way to her motor vehicle. The man allegedly physically assaulted the woman dealt her several blows about her body and instructed her to return to the house. The man then allegedly went through her phone, dealt her another blow to her face and made her unpack. Sometime after while in the bedroom the man allegedly had sexual intercourse with the woman against her will.

The matter was adjourned to 22nd September 2023. The accused was also granted bail with a surety in the sum of $115,000 when he appeared a second time before Magistrate Indra Ramoo-Haynes. On this occasion, the accused was charged with Common Assault and Causing Grievous Bodily Harm.

The charges stem from an incident on Friday 1st January 2021, in which a woman allegedly went to a man’s home a bit late after having been invited. The man became furious and allegedly took his firearm, pointed it in her direction and made threats to kill her. Also around 4:30 pm on Saturday 17th June 2023, the woman and the man were seated in his vehicle outside her home, when they got into an argument. It is alleged that the man choked the woman until she blacked out, he also slapped her across her face. He then allegedly threatened to kill her if he saw her with any other men.

The matter was also adjourned to 22nd September 2023. Investigations into these matters were supervised by Superintendent Claire Guy-Alleyne, ASP Ag Christopher Aroon, Inspector Stanley and Sgt Ag Edwards.