Crime reporter accused of robbery, firing at cops

A reporter who led crime coverage for a Trinidad & Tobago newspaper and a TV news cameraman are being accused of robbing a liquor store and getting in a shootout with police.

Authorities say Trinidad Express reporter Akile Simon and TV6 cameraman Brendon Alexander teamed up with a security guard and a taxi driver to commit the robbery in a town outside Port-of-Spain.

Police allege the four initially posed as police, showing the shop owner a phony warrant.

The gang is accused of engaging officers in a shootout shortly after robbing the store of $28,000 and nine bottles of whiskey. The security guard was shot in the leg before they surrendered.

The reporter and the cameraman pleaded not guilty to robbery charges at a court hearing Thursday.