Man ‘shot dead’ by Dominican Republic cop after he refused arrest for defying coronavirus curfew

Man, 30, ‘shot dead by police after he’s caught defying Dominican Republic coronavirus lockdown’

  • Edwin Cespedes was reportedly killed by a cop when he refused to be arrested Monday night in the Dominican Republic for breaking curfew 
  • Witnesses said the 30-year-old was outside his home in the southern city of Azua when a police unit asked him to board a patrol pickup truck
  • Cespedes put up a struggle and was shot by a police officer, who escaped on a motorcycle with his partner
  • The island nation imposed a curfew last Friday that will last until April 3 in an effort to stem the outbreak of the coronavirus
  • More than 5,000 people have been arrested during the first three nights the decree was put in place
  • The Dominican Republic has reported three deaths related to the deadly virus and a total 312 confirmed cases 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

A man was shot dead during a confrontation with the police in the Dominican Republic on Monday night after he defied a curfew imposed for the outbreak of coronavirus.

Edwin Cespedes was outside his home when he was approached by a National Police unit that was enforcing a nationwide evening lockdown order. 

A witness told local press that the 30-year-old tussled with at least four officers who attempted to placed him under arrest. 

Edwin Cespedes was allegedly shot dead by a cop aboard a motorcycle during the 30-year-old man’s confrontation with members of the National Police in the municipality of Azua. Witnesses said Cespedes tussled with the cops when they attempted to place him in a pickup truck Monday after he was found roaming outside his home past the 8pm curfew 

The National Police has registered more than 5,000 arrests since last Friday, when the government of the Dominican Republic imposed a curfew to stem the coronavirus outbreak

The National Police has registered more than 5,000 arrests since last Friday, when the government of the Dominican Republic imposed a curfew to stem the coronavirus outbreak

The witness added that a motorcycle police unit then showed up and that one of cops fired the shot that struck Cespedes in the head before fleeing the scene.

Cespedes was transported to Taiwan Regional Hospital, where he was declared dead.

No arrests had been made as of Tuesday evening despite mounting pressure from friends and family members, who said the police knew the identity of the cop who fired the fatal shot.

 

President Danilo Medina imposed a curfew last Friday as a measure to prevent and control the deadly coronavirus disease, which has produced six deaths and 312 confirmed cases

President Danilo Medina imposed a curfew last Friday as a measure to prevent and control the deadly coronavirus disease, which has produced six deaths and 312 confirmed cases

The Dominican government put the curfew in place last Friday and bans all non-essential workers from leaving their homes after from 8pm to 6am.

The decree is scheduled to be lifted April 3. The police has registered more than 5,000 arrests during the first three nights. 

Officials believe having the curfew in place will stem the rise of the coronavirus which has caused six deaths in the island nation of 10.8 million. 

The government’s health ministry has reported 312 positive cases. At least three people have recovered. 

The pandemic is responsible for the deaths of more than 18,500 across the globe. More than 415,000 cases have been confirmed in 169 countries.

A woman walks near to the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia church  in Santo Domingo. The church has been closed due restrictions imposed by the Domincan Republic government which ban large public gatherings

A woman walks near to the Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia church  in Santo Domingo. The church has been closed due restrictions imposed by the Domincan Republic government which ban large public gatherings

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