Assault - Channel 5 Belize

Chester Commends Officers for That Pulled Over Faber

On Tuesday, former Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber made headlines when he was arrested and charged just moments after delivering a statement alongside Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton at a U.D.P. press conference in Belize City. Faber is accused of assaulting a police officer and obstructing the officer from performing his duties. In a viral video, he is seen holding a camera phone close to the officer’s face and refusing to step away when asked. We spoke with outgoing Commissioner of Police Chester Williams for his comments on the incident. Here’s what he had to say.

Chester Williams, Former Commissioner of Police

“I think those two police officers need to be commended. They were extremely calm, extremely patient, and extremely professional. I personally, and when I said people, when I said to people when I saw the video, I said to them, if I were those police, I would’ve thumped him. I have, I said that. He was certainly provocative and intimidating. We have said over and over, there’s nothing wrong for any citizen to record the police. The police are there performing a duty. We have nothing to hide. Our actions can be recorded by anybody, but while you do you cannot obstruct the police. So for him to be all up in the face of the police and for OJ to be so cynical yesterday insinuating to the media that they’re assaulting him because cameras are so close. That was the stupidest excuse, right? The cameras yesterday were not coming into his space. He stood there for an interview. In the case of the police and Mr. Faber, even as the police told him, give me working space, just step back a bit, he constantly was in the face of the police. And when the police went upstairs, the way he climbed up the stairs, going after the police. That was unnecessary. Then he was here to the police, that the police were assaulting a public officer- public officer. Really the law is clear if you assault a public officer in the execution of their duty, it did not say if you assault a public officer who may be drinking or who may be drunk, right? If you are drinking or you are drunk, even if you are a police and you’re out there under the influence, your duties as a police officer is removed. You cannot then shield yourself with the law to say that you are executing your duty while you were drunk. The law doesn’t cover you there. So we must ensure we apply the law the way it should. And for him to say he’s going to make a counter complaint against the police or a cross complaint, it is not going well. I’m not the commissioner no more, but I don’t think that it is going to be entertained. And I gave up instruction yesterday that it must not be entertained again.”

Britney Gordon

“Have we confirmed that Mr. Faber was driving under the influence?”

Chester Williams

“ They, again, the police officers dropped the ball, and I guess perhaps they did because of the inter intimidating factors that he applied on them. They did not ask him for a blood urine sample, so the bowel was dropped there.”

National Student Union Speaks on UB Lecturer Allegations

The National Student Union of Belize (NSUB) has issued a strong condemnation of sexual harassment and misconduct, following allegations against University of Belize Lecturer, Doctor Pio Saqui, by at least four female students. The union stands with the brave students who have come forward, acknowledging their courage. These allegations against Doctor Saqui span over a decade and include reports of unwanted touching, unsolicited comments, and inappropriate messages. NSUB finds these details deeply troubling and calls for a thorough and transparent response from the nation. The union supports the university’s decision to place Doctor Saqui on administrative leave and initiate a full investigation. They are advocating for a swift, comprehensive, and independent investigation, along with stronger measures to prevent sexual harassment and ensure a safe learning environment for all students. Stay tuned as we continue to follow this story.

Reporter Wade to File Complaint Against Police for Assault

Last week, reports surfaced about a journalist being assaulted by police at an incident scene. Louis ‘Ljay’ Wade, a PlusTV reporter, claims he arrived at Guanacaste Park in Belmopan, where Henry Osorio and Alexander Munoz had drowned, shortly after the police. Wade says he waited at the park entrance until the police left and filmed from a distance. After the bodies were removed, Wade alleges that police approached him, pinned him against the gate, and seized his phone. They demanded he delete the videos or face charges for obstruction of justice, but he refused. Wade claims this confrontation lasted several minutes, during which his phone was taken multiple times, he was denied a phone call, and the officers refused to give their names and badge numbers. We spoke with Wade today for more details.

Louis ‘Ljay’ Wade, Reporter, PlusTV

“I wasn’t necessarily scared. I was just shocked at what had happened. Because I feel like the situation could have been avoided if, at the start, they would have told me to, just leave this area because we’re about to do something to the body. Then I would have left, but it’s as they’re taking the body. Then they immediately come for me with no talking, like pinning me up against the gate that I was at. It was just, it was weird.”

Reporter

“And so you’re going to make a report?”

Louis ‘Ljay’ Wade

“I wasn’t going to make a report at first because I didn’t get injured. People weren’t there so I wasn’t too embarrassed. They didn’t break my phone. But after talking it over, yeah, I filed a report. Yeah, filed a report.”

Britney Gordon

“And you said that, they didn’t have the caution tape or stuff like that. Do you think that this is probably a reason, lack of proper equipment, that they didn’t want you to record anything?”

Louis ‘Ljay’ Wade

“Yeah, a hundred percent because I forgot to mention, but like when they were taking me to the vehicle, he was telling me the only reason I’m there is to show the police department in a bad light. Because they weren’t transporting the body with the proper structure or anything like that. Like they were literally holding the guy by his leg, his hand. And upon rewatching the video, one of them is actually holding the guy by his hair. Like taking the dead body. But I didn’t even notice that in the moment. Like I’m just capturing the scene of the dead body being transported. But they were telling me, you just want to look bad because you see we don’t have the equipment and stuff like that. So I think that played a role in it.”

Man Claims Police Abused Him; Police Say Not So

Police have provided their side of an incident in Independence Village, where a man claims he was abused by officers. Twenty-four-year-old Emil Rivas was detained at the Belize Bank compound and charged with possessing a knife and resisting arrest. Rivas, who says he has asthma, alleges that he was stripped down to his boxers and left in a cold cell. He also claims that after police told him to run, they beat him and shot him in the stomach and back. However, the police tell a different story. They say Rivas found a machete in a yard and brandished it at them, which led to them shooting him. Today, A.C.P. Hilberto Romero shared the police’s version of events.

A.C.P Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“On Friday, the 24th of January 2025, Emil Rivas was detained at Independence for aggravated assault after it is alleged that he had assaulted somebody with a knife. He was taken into custody, where at the station, he jumped out of the back of a police vehicle where he received some injuries. He was immediately apprehended and taken to the cell. where he was detained. Then on Saturday morning, while the cell was being cleaned, he ran from the police who were cleaning the cell. He went to a nearby house where it is alleged that he armed himself with a machete. The police cornered him, and there was a struggle. Attempts were made to disarm him from the machete. A warning shot was fired, but that did not work. At some point, then the police officer shot him to the leg. He’s presently admitted in a stable condition. As in every police shooting, an investigation will be carried out by the Professional Standards Branch.”

Reporter

“Is a particular police officer being looked at in this incident, someone who has been involved in this kind of thing before?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“Well, there are several police officers that were involved, some at the cell block and some who brought him into custody.”

Reporter

“We understand that his mom was turned away allegedly by police when they took him to the hospital. Is it a policy that someone is under detention, family members are not allowed access?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“I’m not aware of that but if he’s in police custody, then at some point, yes, she can visit.”

Reporter

“He has several injuries on him and the allegation is that some of those injuries were inflicted by police. How do you respond?”

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“Again, the report is that he jumped out of the back of a police vehicle, he received injuries. Thereafter, efforts were made to try and disarm him from the machete, so some force was used on him. So again, I said an investigation will be carried out.”

Twenty-six Years for Convicted Child Rapist

Robert Usher, a father of six, has had his sentences reduced but will still spend the next twenty-six years, eleven months, and fourteen days behind bars for his horrific crimes. Convicted of raping a minor on three separate occasions, along with aggravated and sexual assault, Usher learned his fate this morning before Justice Candace Nanton. The thirty-four-year-old, who switched attorneys after his conviction, found out just how long he’ll be serving. The victim’s nightmare began when she was only eight years old and continued until she was seventeen. Usher first molested her at eight and raped her three times when she turned thirteen. The abuse, which started in September 2010, only stopped when she moved away, and authorities were finally notified. Throughout his trial, Usher maintained his innocence, denying all allegations. Attorney Norman Rodriguez shared a few comments following the sentencing.

Norman Rodriguez, Attorney at Law

“ It was actually two counts involving aggravated assault and sexual assault, and three counts of rape for a maximum sentence, overall sentence, of twenty-six years, eleven months and fourteen days. That would mean that they subtracted the eight days he had spent on remand and there was a deduction of a year from the or for the mitigating testimonies of the witnesses. I came on to this matter for the sentence and the mitigation and sentencing. So I can only tell you that his trial started sometime in November and concluded in November when he was found guilty and remanded to the prison for his sentencing.”

Egbert Gill Charged for Aggravated Assault

Tonight, twenty-two-year-old Egbert Vince Gill from Santa Barbara Street is out on bail after being arraigned on a charge of aggravated assault with a knife. Late this evening, Gill, who did not have legal representation, appeared before Chief Magistrate Jayani Wegodapola. He was charged with aggravated assault with a dangerous instrument against Leon Lopez. Gill, a laborer from Belize City, pleaded not guilty. With no objections, he was granted bail of one thousand, five hundred dollars, plus one surety of the same amount, which he met. As part of his bail conditions, Gill must not contact the complainant or any members of his family. He also must not be arrested or charged with any other offenses while out on bail, or his bail will be revoked. Gill’s next court date is set for February twenty-eight, 2025.