Cristo Rey Youth Dies in Police Van
Derrick Uh
The popular San Joaquin Festival held annually around mid-August has been marred by tragedy, following the death of a young villager from Cristo Rey. There are multiple reports of what led to his detention, but in the wee hours of Sunday, an inebriated Derrick Uh was taken into custody by officers working the festival and placed in a police prison van. When the event ended, the van was parked at the Corozal Police Station, but it appears that the officers forgot their detainee and he was left in the back of the van for over twelve hours with no ventilation, no water or food. Uh was discovered dead on Sunday evening. There is public outcry from various quarters on the inhumane treatment of the youth. News Five’s Duane Moody reports from up north.
Duane Moody, Reporting
A family from Cristo Rey Village, Corozal District, including the entire community, is mourning the unthinkable, inhumane death of one of their own as a criminal and internal investigation is being carried out by the Belize Police Department.
Victor Camal
Victor Camal, Chairman, Cristo Rey Village
“It’s a shocking event and shocking story more than anything because it is a relative. So for me to get a bad news like that and the situation in which it happened and everything, that makes it unbelievable. Many are saying it right now, they can’t believe it. How will you forget someone in a vehicle for so much time? Especially the police department. It is sad for the family. I am a family to them so I have the same feelings for him and the family too.”
Duane Moody
“Twenty-year-old Derrick Uh was socializing here on Saturday night at the San Joaquin Fiesta. Sometime after midnight, he was detained by police and placed inside a prison van about a hundred yards from where I am standing. It is inside that van that Uh would lose his life.”
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“The officers were working the San Joaquin Festival the Saturday night during which they had detained a young man who apparently was under the influence. You would know [that] San Joaquin does not have a police station and so there is no detention cell there. So what they did was to put him in the back of a police prison van. Now, those of you who know the prison van, the back of those vans are sealed, properly sealed and it does require the engine to be running for there to be ventilation in the portion where prisoners are normally kept. And so while they were at the grounds, the van was on and there was ventilation.”
Uh was inside the police van for over twelve hours; the van, which remains parked in front of the Corozal Police Station, was left in the sweltering heat and there was no form of ventilation. To understand how hot inside the van was, data from weather stations in the Corozal District recorded that maximum temperatures on Sunday were in the range of eighty-eight to ninety-one degrees Fahrenheit, but that’s for shaded and ventilated areas. Reports to News Five are that Uh was discovered shirtless with blisters on his body.
Chester Williams
“Apparently, after the event was over, the van was taken to the Corozal Police Station where it was parked. And somehow, based on what I am told, I was not there, but based on what I am told, [is] that the officers may have forgotten that they had the young man in the back of the vehicle. Yesterday evening when the driver of the van who normally takes the van to prison to ferry prisoners, went to service the van to make sure it was roadworthy for today, he discovered the lifeless body of the young man in the back of the van. He was taken to the Corozal Hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
The Belize Police Department is catching flak for the incident, as the family is calling for justice.
Victor Camal
“Justice for Derrick. As a relative, I myself would want more than just hear a story. I want to get the facts on what really happened there. So we need more than justice in this case.”
Chester Williams
“I have directed a criminal and internal investigation into the matter. Those police officers who are responsible for placing the young man in the back of the vehicle will have to be dealt with some way or the other. The file will be prepared and sent to the D.P.P.’s office for instructions and then we will move forward from there.”
Isani Cayetano
“Forgive me for asking the obvious here, but what accounts for this gross oversight?”
Chester Williams
“I cannot say, but as I said, those who are responsible must be held accountable for what happened. The death of the young man cannot go in vain. He does have family, he has loved ones who certainly want answers and it is our responsibility to provide the answers for them.”
Uh was the only boy of three siblings and according to his relatives, he was to commence his associate’s degree program at Corozal Junior College this month.
Alfredo Pena
Alfredo Pena, Cousin of Deceased
“He was a good person. He liked to work and everything. He was studying and he liked his work at construction.”
Duane Moody
“I understand that he was supposed to go back to school.”
Alfredo Pena
“Yeah. He was to start school today, but he neva get to go.”
Victor Camal
“He was a person that whenever he meets you, his words was premito here and there. I have never had a problem with him as a family or a friend. You know usual thing when someone drinks it’s different from normal.”
Derrick Uh
Duane Moody
“But he wasn’t a troublemaker like that?”
Victor Camal
“Well not that I know. He was a calm person. He works during the week and just had like one or two off. But a very calm person, respectful.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
