BPD Offers Different Account in PC Dawson’s Shooting

The Belize Police Department, however, provides a very different account of what took place.  According to a report issued earlier today, PC Dawson failed to stop at the vehicle checkpoint that was set up outside of Orange Walk Town.  When he floored the vehicle, officers immediately gave chase and an exchange of gunfire ensued.  They say that Dawson was the one who opened fire upon the pursuing officers.  During the firefight, Dawson was shot in the back and suffered a punctured lung.  He remains admitted at the Northern Regional Hospital.  This afternoon, Assistant Superintendent Fitzroy Yearwood provided additional details.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, BPD

“From what I have gathered so far, an accident took place in the Corozal jurisdiction where a young lady Mossiah alleged that she was driving a Ford Edge, if I’m not mistaken, a Ford vehicle and it collided with a JAC pickup driven at the time by Police Constable Dawson.  Now the officers are alleging that when they were processing the scene, Mr. Dawson got into his vehicle and drove off from the scene.  You and I both know, all of us know that the laws clearly state that fleeing the scene of a crime, an accident or a crime, that would raise a lot of questions.  I cannot say that Mr. Dawson, what was his reason for leaving that scene, but he is alleging that he left the scene because, from watching his video, he believed that some form of collusion was happening. When he left that scene, it is alleged that Corozal police contacted Orange Walk police and Orange Walk police set up a vehicular checkpoint where they alleged that he drove through that checkpoint also.  In his video, he stated that he was trying to reach his base in Belize City, GI3 compound, where he believed he would have been safer.  I don’t know why.  But my honest opinion, it was only a minor traffic accident and it ended up turning or gone bad, because one: he should have stayed on that scene.  Regardless, if you believe that it wasn’t going the way you believe it should have gone or in your favor, at the end of the day you would have had your chance to explain yourself.  It is very unfortunate that we have an officer in the hospital fighting for his life, as a result of a minor traffic accident in my view that could have been avoided.”