A wrecker removes the stolen blue Toyota Noah minivan which crashed during a chase by the police yesterday, killing the driver, who was said to be one of three armed men who held up Port Antonio businessman Derrick Allen and his female companion. Allen was robbed of US$2,000, J$200,000 a DVD player, a Sony playstation, a component set and cellular phone. The robbers later fled in his minivan, but were chased by the police.(Photo: Everard Owen)

MANCHIONEAL, Portland - A man accused of robbing a businessman of cash and electronic items was killed yesterday morning when he failed to negotiate a corner and crashed while being chased by the police.

Last night, three men whom the police suspect were involved in the early morning robbery, were being interrogated by investigators.

Debbie Douglas-Ellis, the Portland spokesperson for the Constabulary Communication Network, reported that at about 3:00 am three armed men held up businessman Derrick Allen, 43, when he and a female companion arrived at his Breastworks home in Port Antonio and were about to open the padlock for the grille gate to the verandah.

"Two went into the house with the couple and asked for money. He (Allen) handed over US$2,000 and J$200,000 and they took away a DVD player, a Sony playstation, a component set, among other things, said Douglas-Ellis.
The businessman, she said, was hit in the head with a gun and his mouth was taped, eyes blindfolded, a plastic bag thrown over his face, and his hands and feet were tied. Cell phones were also taken from the couple, and Allen's shoes were removed from his feet by the armed men.

According to the police spokesperson, the bandits took the keys for the businessman's blue Toyota Noah and tried to get it started. However, it could not start and they returned to the house, hit the businessman, and demanded that he show them where the 'kill switch' was located so the vehicle could start. He complied and they drove away the vehicle.

The Port Antonio police, who were informed about the robbery, contacted police stations in the eastern part of the parish where the thieves were heading.

The vehicle was spotted by the police in Manchioneal and a chase ensued. However, the driver of the stolen vehicle failed to negotiate a corner and crashed into a wall, killing himself. The other two occupants escaped.

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