A former police officer is among three suspected bandits who were apprehended by the police along Lamaha Street, Georgetown, following a high speed chase on Monday morning.The men, who were in a heavily tinted Toyota Premio motorcar car bearing a false number plate, sped away from the police shortly before lunch.

The police ranks, some of whom were on motor cycles, chased the car which crashed into a drain an hour later along Lamaha Street between Vlissengen Road and Republic Street, Georgetown.

Two of the men have been identified as Eloy Livan, 28, of Lot 47 Richards Town, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara and Devon Chase, 30, of Hill Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

Chase, a former police rank, has had brushes with the law dating back to 2008 when he was charged for larceny.

On Monday morning, police reportedly retrieved a 9 mm firearm and ammunition from the vehicle. The car’s original number plate HC 7294 was covered with a fake registration HB 7412.

Scores of persons gathered as the police arrested the suspected bandits.

Police in a release said they responded to information indicating that the men were planning to rob a gas station.