Police in Panama Try to Stop U.S. Envoy’s Car

In an incident that a U.S. Embassy spokesman termed “serious,” Panamanian police in a white pickup truck Sunday tried to stop a limousine carrying U.S. Ambassador Arthur Davis.

The police, who are under the command of Panama’s military strongman, Gen. Manuel A. Noriega, began to follow Davis’ limousine when it left the grounds of the Vatican envoy’s residence in Punta Paitilla, a well-to-do neighborhood in this capital.

Shortly afterward, the truck turned on its siren and red flashing lights, which Davis apparently took as a sign for him to pull over.

Davis’ chauffeur is “under instructions” not to stop in such a situation, embassy spokesman Terrence Kneebone said. Kneebone declined to say whether Davis’ car speeded up to elude the Panamanian police before he arrived safely at his hilltop residence in central Panama City.

The police made no effort to block Davis’ car or force it off the road, Kneebone said.

The incident comes but two days before 1,300 U.S. troops are to begin arriving in Panama. The soldiers are to provide security for American citizens and interests here.

Tension between the United States and Panama has been high for months. Noriega is wanted on drug-trafficking charges in the United States, and the Reagan Administration is openly calling for him to step down.

Noriega’s government has not responded directly to the dispatch of U.S. troops, although a government-owned newspaper ran articles Sunday telling Panamanians they should prepare to repel a U.S. invasion.

Spokesman Kneebone said the embassy will not directly protest Sunday’s incident because Washington does not recognize Noriega’s government. The Reagan Administration considers deposed President Eric A. Delvalle, who is in hiding, as Panama’s legitimate chief of state. U.S. officials, however, still meet informally with Noriega officials.

There has been sporadic harassment of U.S. diplomats in Panama. The United States recently ignored orders from Noriega’s government to expel two diplomats assigned to the American Embassy here. Last summer, pro-Noriega demonstrators led by government officials splattered the embassy building with paint.

Since February, 49 U.S. soldiers stationed on American military bases along the Panama Canal have been detained for brief periods by Noriega’s police.