Commissioner: Faber Provoked and Intimidated Officers During Traffic Stop

Former Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber was arrested yesterday morning shortly after appearing at a UDP press conference in Belize City with Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton. Police say Faber allegedly sped through a checkpoint near the BelChina Bridge, prompting a police pursuit.

Officers later discovered his vehicle was unlicensed, and he failed to produce a driver’s license, claiming it was at home. Police followed him to his residence, where he presented the licence. While issuing traffic tickets, Faber began recording one of the officers and reportedly held his phone close to the officer’s face, leading to claims of assault and obstruction.

He was later detained and arraigned at the Belize City Magistrates Court, where he pleaded not guilty. Outside court, Faber said the charges are politically motivated and denied being under the influence or obstructing police. Outgoing Police Commissioner Chester Williams addressed the incident today, saying, “We have always emphasised to the public that they can record their encounter with the police. If you watched the action of Mr Faber, he was doing more than recording — he was provoking and intimidating the officers. He even pushed his phone in the officer’s face, despite the officer’s plea for working space.”

Williams said at no time was Faber told not to record, but his actions constituted obstruction. “The law is clear — if you do any act that makes the police performing their duty difficult, then you would have obstructed them,” he added. Williams also dismissed comparisons made by Faber’s attorney, calling them inaccurate.