Scrubbie Surrenders after Being on the Lam for Almost 2 Months
A fugitive, who escaped from police custody almost two months ago, turned himself in at the Queen Street Police Station this morning in the company of his attorney. He absconded from a holding cell at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on February ninth when he allegedly asked the officer on duty to use the facilities. Edward Saldano Jr. is wanted for the crime of murder. Today, he contacted the media through his lawyer to deny any involvement in the deadly incident. He also refuted claims that he ran away from the law and told News Five that he was allowed to walk free by an officer who purportedly told him that he was being abused by the justice system. It happened around the time when his father was gunned down on Wilson Street when his enemies could not get to him. Isani Cayetano has that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
When an all-points bulletin was issued for the capture of twenty-one-year-old Edward Saldano Jr. on February ninth, police reported that he had escaped from lawful custody. The young stevedore was on remand for a charge of robbery. He had appeared before a lower court judge sometime earlier, before he was seemingly told by an officer that he was free to go. Such an instruction, however, can only be given by the magistrate. According to Saldano, the unnamed officer informed him that he was being taken advantage of by the justice system when he was denied bail.
Edward Saldano Jr.
Edward Saldano Jr., Escapee
“Di police tell me how that noh right weh dehn do wid me, how I fi get my bail. So he tell me, if he da mi me, he mi gwein. So then he tell me if I mi wahn go. So I tell ahn once yoh serious. Then ih tell me just goh. He hail me outta di cell and tell me goh, and lock back di cell and tell me goh… I just walk gaan. So di night now, I sih dehn put up my picture how I escape. I neva escape sir, di police tell me mek I gaan.”
In other parts of the media, it has been reported that Saldano absconded after asking to use the restroom. Since then he has been on the lam. His father, who bears his namesake, was executed several weeks later as he rode a bicycle on Wilson Street. Many believe that the bullets that mortally wounded “Scrub Board” were actually meant for his son.
Edward Saldano Sr.
Edward Saldano Jr.
“Dehn just chance my pa, I feel like, because ah weh da me. He da di senior and I live pan George Street deh and dehn accuse me ah George Street and me da gang member and all kinda thing. Soh I feel like dehn chance my pa ‘cause my pa noh give trouble or mess wid nobody and I feel like dehn get to the cause dehn cyant get to me.”
Saldano is represented by attorney Orson Elrington. This morning around eleven o’clock, his client surrendered himself at the Queen Street Police Station. Notwithstanding his alleged escape, Saldano complains of inhumane treatment at the Belize Central Prison.
Orson Elrington
Orson Elrington, Attorney-at-law
“It is a common misconception that persons who are being, who are lawfully detained should be treated in any manner, that you no longer have rights if it is that you are in custody or if you are in prison. But that is not the law, the law says that even when you are in prison that yes, you do lose some of your rights but you still should be, you still have certain rights and still most certainly should have the respect that any normal human being should have. So you are not supposed to be subjected to inhumane conditions.”
Saldano is also wanted in connection with a murder that happened here in Belize City. He denies any involvement in that incident.
Isani Cayetano
“The wanted bulletin comes out for your recapture because they are saying that you escaped. So where have you been all this while and during that time they killed your dad, where were you? Where have you been?”
Edward Saldano Jr.
“I neva deh no part ah Belize City, I neva deh da Belize City. I just cohn down todeh and my ma tell me mek I hand een myself because I sih and she sih how dehn put out da wanted poster eena some murder weh I noh know bout. And di reason I mi deh pan di run soh long too da because ah my father passed away and all kinda thing. Soh I seh mek I cohn hand een myself.”
Isani Cayetano
“You do realize, however, that you’re gonna be facing another charge. So if you were in police custody at the time, the magistrate at the time said, “Okay, we can’t give you bail now, come back within a month,” and now they are charging you for escaping from legal custody. Are you prepared to go back to the Belize Central Prison to face time there, because ultimately that‘s where they‘re going to put you again.”
Edward Saldano Jr.
“I prepared, but that’s why I di cohn to the media cause I noh really wahn weh happen, happen again because I know if I goh back deh dehn wahn put me eena di hole, eena wahn hole eena wahn cell.”
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
