Around 2am Monday, March 31st 2008 an assault took place onboard a Bermuda registered cruise ship in international waters off Panama. Three male crew members, all Mauritius nationals, were involved in a dispute which resulted in two of the men sustaining knife wounds to their hands and upper body. Their injuries are not considered to be life threatening. The two injured crewmen were treated onboard the cruise ship before receiving additional treatment at a hospital in Panama. They remain in the Panamanian hospital recovering from their wounds. The suspect was detained onboard the vessel by the ship’s security services.

A team of three investigators from the Bermuda Police Service Serious & Organized Crime Division, led by an Acting Chief Inspector, have been flown out to investigate the matter. The officers are expected to meet the cruise ship in Aruba today and interview the suspect in due course. There are currently over 20 Bermuda registered cruise ships and any serious offences committed onboard these vessels fall under the remit of the Bermuda Police Service, which has primary jurisdiction.

At 1:15pm on Tuesday, Police attended the Railway Trail in Sandy’s parish after a reported theft from a vehicle. The complainant stated that around 12:55pm he was working in the area when he observed two men walking away from his truck, which was parked nearby. When he checked the truck, he discovered a quantity of cash missing. The two suspects made good their escape along the Railway Trail. Officers searched the nearby ‘Lantana’ property but were unable to locate the suspects. The suspects are described as two young black men in their mid to late teens, of slim build; one is approximately 6’ tall while the other is approximately 5’5” tall. The taller suspect was wearing a grey hooded sweat top while the other young man was wearing all black clothing.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to this incident; in particular, we would like to speak with a black male in his 40’s who was apparently walking along the trails at the time and may have either witnessed the incident or seen the suspects running away on to the ‘Lantana’ property. Anyone with any information about this matter is encouraged to contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010.

The Bermuda Police Service would like to thank the public for their assistance in locating 29 year old Norma Jean Pitcher of Sandy’s parish. She attended the Somerset Police Station earlier today and is safe and sound.

The Bermuda Police Service is continuing to appeal for the public’s assistance in locating 15 year old Dwayne Hassan. Dwayne was last seen Monday, March 24th in the Devonshire area. He is described as brown skinned, 6’ tall of slim build weighing approximately 140 pounds with a close haircut and is known to frequent the Cedar Park, Devonshire area as well as the Crawl Hill, Hamilton parish area. Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of 15 year old Dwayne Hassan is encouraged to contact Police on 295-0011.