A resident of Crooked Tree Village is in police custody, charged with attempted murder after a bold attack on law enforcement officers on Sunday night. The incident happened in front of Fire Nightclub on the Philip Goldson Highway, where Stanley Flowers was spotted with a firearm and knife. According to the police report, Corporal Manuel Chub was standing about four feet away from a light-skinned man with dreadlocks, wearing a white T-shirt and faded blue jeans. The man was on a blue and black Meilun motorcycle without a license plate. Chub instructed him to raise his hands, but instead, the man pulled out a silver and black 9mm pistol and fired several shots at Chub, injuring him. The shooter then sped off on the Philip Goldson Highway towards Burrell Boom junction. When he reached the junction, officers from the Belize River Valley chased him. The man fired at their vehicle, damaging the hood and windshield, but was eventually caught.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Last night, sometime just before midnight, police received information of a male person inside the Eruption Nightclub compound who was armed with a firearm. Based on that, a team of police officers, Corporal Chub and another police went to the area and upon entering the compound, they saw an individual fitting the description as was relayed to them. They approached the individual and he took out a firearm and fired multiple shots at the vehicle. The police were able to alight the vehicle and upon approaching him, he fired shots at Corporal Chub, hitting him four times. Chub was rushed to the hospital and I must say that he has been treated and released. He is in good health and good spirit at this time. The individual, after having shot Corporal Chub, jumped on a motorcycle and made his way towards the Sand Hill area. The Sand Hill police were notified and they proceeded towards Belize City with a view to see if they would be able to apprehend the individual. And again, they encountered him on the highway and upon seeing the police mobile, he fired multiple shots at the police mobile, causing severe damages to that vehicle. The police were able to knock him down with their vehicle off his motorcycle and he was eventually detained. The firearm, a nine-millimeter pistol, was found on his person. So he was also taken to the hospital for treatment and has also been treated and released and is now in the custody of the police awaiting charges.”
A veteran police officer has been officially discharged from the Belize Police Department following an internal review. The termination letter stated, quote, In light of the serious nature of the allegations against you, the impact on the reputation of the Belize Police Department, and after careful consideration of the submission by your attorney… I hereby exercise my power and discharge you from the Belize Police Department, effective March 28, 2025, end quote. Back in late February, we reported the discovery of the body of twenty-nine-year-old Raheem Usher from Libertad Village, who had been missing for over a month. His body was found in San Antonio Village, not badly decomposed, indicating he had been held captive for a long time before being shot twice in the head. Usher was found handcuffed, wrapped in a sheet, and covered in plastic. The sheet had a handwritten threat aimed at those ‘bringing down planes with drugs,’ listing six names, including the officer’s. On March twenty-fifth, the law firm of Morales & Company wrote to Commissioner of Police Chester Williams on their client’s behalf. The letter states, quote, our client categorically rejects the baseless allegations of involvement in illicit drug activities, including drug trafficking operations. Our client has served the Government of Belize as a police officer for over twenty-two years with an unblemished disciplinary record. His dedication to interdicting illicit drug trafficking activities within the Anti-Drug Unit for over seven years has been exemplary. He has played a crucial role in successful anti-drug operations alongside other members of the police department and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States of America. Considering the above, our considered view is that our client is serving the Government of Belize as an efficient non-commissioned police officer and it is highly unlikely that he will cease to be an efficient officer of the police department. We trust that your opinion will reflect our views and that you will not discharge our client from the police department, end quote.
Two of the six fishermen from the north were granted bail this morning by Justice Nigel Pilgrim in the High Court. Lerman Norman Leslie, thirty-one, from Chunox Village, and Ronyer Alexander Cruz, twenty-four, from Sarteneja Village, were each granted bail of nine thousand dollars, with two sureties of four thousand, five hundred dollars each. Prosecutor Dercene Staine did not object to their bail. As part of their bail conditions, they must report to the Corozal Police Station every Monday and Friday starting March thirty-first, 2025, until the case is resolved. They must attend all court hearings, avoid contacting prosecution witnesses, stay within the jurisdiction unless permitted by a High Court judge, and not get arrested or charged with any new offenses while out on bail, or their bail could be revoked. The fishermen, along with Pastor Mark Anthony Humes and four others—Freddy Estuardo Chavez, Angel Aragon, and Marvin Teul—were initially charged with possession of one thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven grams of cocaine. At their arraignment on March nineteenth, 2025, they were all denied bail. However, on March twenty-first, 2025, the charge against Pastor Humes was dropped, leaving only the six fishermen facing charges. The bail application for the remaining four fishermen will be heard on March thirty-first, 2025, in the High Court. The arrests stemmed from a bust on March eighteenth, 2025, in Orange Walk Town. Police intercepted a gold Dodge Caravan driven by Pastor Humes, who was reportedly hired to transport the fishermen from Belize City to Orange Walk. The six fishermen are due back in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on May twenty-second, 2025.
After spending over five months on remand for child pornography and sexual assault of a ten-year-old, Shania Shahera Welch, a twenty-one-year-old student from Gales Point Manatee, is finally out on bail. Her case wrapped up in a preliminary inquiry last Monday, March seventeenth, at the Belize City Magistrate’s Court. The Director of Public Prosecutions herself handled the inquiry, which ended with Welch being committed to stand trial at the High Court’s April session. According to the ten-year-old victim’s report, Welch allegedly forced her to masturbate with a deodorant bottle and recorded the act. The Senior Magistrate ordered Welch to stand trial for making child pornography and sexual assault. During the inquiry, DPP Cheryl Lynn-Vidal presented several statements against Welch that the prosecution plans to use. Welch had been denied bail since her arraignment in early October 2024, spending over five months behind bars. She was granted bail today for eight thousand dollars, with conditions: she must not interfere with the victim, stay two hundred yards away from her, and report to the police station weekly. The allegations date back to December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2022, when Welch reportedly made a video of the child engaging in explicit sexual activity. The police prosecutor objected to bail, fearing Welch might interfere with the victim. Despite this, Welch was granted bail after having no objections. The case began when members of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Unit responded to reports of an explicit video involving a minor circulating in southern Belize. The victim identified Welch as the woman in the video during an interview conducted with her mother and a social worker.
A very emotional and hurt Elroy Williams couldn’t lift his head after hearing he must serve prison time for attempted murder. Despite having only two years, seven months, and eleven days left behind bars, Williams, who had been separated from his wife, visited her in 2018 and ended up beating her new boyfriend with a two-by-four board. The boyfriend now suffers from chronic pain and severe headaches, conditions he must live with for the rest of his life. Williams had hoped for time being served or probation, but Justice Pilgrim ruled otherwise. Williams, a father, left court in tears, disappointed that he wouldn’t be returning to his family. Justice Pilgrim initially sentenced him to eight years, but after considering the use of a weapon and other factors, it increased to nine years. However, four years were deducted for mitigating factors, including Williams’ participation in rehabilitation programs and his genuine remorse. His sentence was further reduced for his early guilty plea and pretrial detention, leaving him with two years, seven months, and eleven days to serve. The incident occurred on January thirtieth, 2018, in Lords Bank Village. Michael Jones, thirty-three, was at his girlfriend’s house when Williams arrived. After a confrontation, Williams returned later with a two-by-four and attacked Jones, leaving him unconscious. Jones suffered severe injuries and has been dealing with the aftermath ever since. Williams admitted to causing the injuries but claimed he didn’t intend to harm Jones and even called an ambulance for him.
Six days after five fishermen and a pastor from Burrell Boom were allegedly caught in Orange Walk with one thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven grams of cocaine in a gold Dodge Caravan, the pastor has been released, but the fishermen are still behind bars. They’re waiting for another bail hearing, set for Friday, March twenty-eighth, 2025, and Monday, March thirty-first, 2025, in the High Court of Justice Nigel Pilgrim. The delay happened because the court didn’t have all the necessary documents to consider their bail. The fishermen have two separate attorneys. Senior Counsel Simeon Sampson represents Lerman Norman Leslie and Ronyer Alexander Cruz, while David McKoy represents Freddy Estuardo Chavez, Angel Aragon, Marvin Teul, and Christian and Merilyn White. Outside the courtroom, heartbroken families waited anxiously for good news, only to leave disappointed when the case was adjourned. Inside, Justice Pilgrim first heard from Attorney Sampson, who argued for Leslie’s bail. However, the judge couldn’t proceed without the case facts, which neither Sampson nor the Crown’s representative, Alifah Elrington, had. Elrington explained that the prosecutor handling the case was unavailable. Justice Pilgrim then heard from Attorney McKoy, who had the case facts but agreed that an adjournment was fair to ensure all parties had the necessary documents. The bail hearing for Leslie and Cruz is now set for Friday, March twenty-eighth, 2025, while the hearing for the other four fishermen is on Monday, March thirty-first, 2025, due to McKoy’s availability. The fishermen were initially arraigned on March nineteenth, 2025, for possession of the quantity of cocaine. The bust happened around seven p.m. in Orange Walk, with Pastor Mark Anthony Humes driving the gold Dodge Caravan. One fisherman later cleared Pastor Humes, stating he was just hired to transport them for one hundred and seventy-five dollars and had no knowledge of the drugs. As a result, charges against Humes were dropped on March twenty-first, 2025. The fishermen’s case will continue in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court on May twenty-second, 2025.
Today, the bail application for Travis Flowers, a senior Belize City Council employee of seventeen years, was brought before the High Court of Justice Nigel Pilgrim. However, despite being properly lodged, the application couldn’t be heard. When the case, claim #118 of 2025, was called up as the eighth bail application on a list of over 12, Crown representative Alifah Elrington requested to be recused. She explained that she knows both the accused, Travis Flowers, and the alleged victim, Calvin Cumberbatch. Elrington asked for an adjournment until Friday, March 28, 2025, when the original prosecutor, Dercene Staine, would be available. Justice Pilgrim granted the adjournment, meaning Flowers’ bail application will be heard then. Flowers, who was denied bail and is currently remanded at the Belize Central Prison, appeared virtually from his cell. His attorney, Leeroy Banner, also appeared virtually. Banner submitted an affidavit on behalf of his client, stating that Flowers, who was charged on March 9, 2025, with attempted murder, use of deadly means of harm, and dangerous harm, was arraigned on March 11, 2025, and denied bail. Flowers, a 45-year-old City Council Enforcement Officer with an unblemished record and no prior convictions, is the father of one daughter. Banner argued that Flowers should be granted bail due to special circumstances. According to the affidavit, Flowers claimed he was first attacked by Cumberbatch, who punched him in the face. A struggle ensued, during which Cumberbatch tried to take Flowers’ gun. The gun fell to the ground, and both men fought for it. Flowers managed to regain possession of the gun and, fearing for his life, shot Cumberbatch in self-defense.
Tonight, the Dangriga community is grieving the loss of Charles ‘Cutch’ Bradley. The forty-nine-year-old fisherman was outside his home in Dangriga Town, socializing, when two men on a motorcycle drove by, and one of them opened fire, hitting him multiple times. News Five’s Britney Gordon brings us the full story.
Charles Bradley Jr.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
In a shocking incident that has left a family heartbroken and the community of Dangriga Town reeling, forty-nine-year-old Charles Bradley Jr., affectionately known as “Cutch” or “Short Man,” was tragically gunned down in broad daylight right outside his home. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has confirmed that authorities are on the hunt for a suspect who is still at large.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Yesterday around eight, eight thirty, there about, Dangriga police were called to Ramos Road. Were upon arrival inside a yard, they found the lifeless body of one. Mr. Bradley, I think the body exhibited what appeared to be gunshot injuries. He was transported to the Southern Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police investigation so far reveals that Bradley was inside his yard when two men passed on a motorcycle, one of whom fired shots in his direction. And those shots. Were what caused his fatal injuries. At this time, police are looking for one individual. We have not been able to locate that person as yet.”
Margaret Vernon, Bradley’s mother, recalls that they had planned to attend church together that morning, but Bradley chose to stay home instead. Though she is heartbroken over the loss of her only son, she feels a deep sense of gratitude to be alive.
Margaret Vernon Robateau
Margaret Vernon Robateau, Mother of Deceased
“And afterward when I get ready he say, mommy, I no gwen da to church. Because I feel a little vibe. And then I gone, what I say, if maybe me and him mi gona da church, maybe ney mi ah kill two ah we. He came home, he said he was going to the cayes, cause he said he mi wa cook food for me. He usually cook on Sundays. And then I think he go right pan da lee cement, and take he lee smoke. I smoked cigarette so I sit down here, but we’re not smoking in the house. And da right there, ney kill ah.”
Vernon wouldn’t learn of her son’s tragic death until after she had returned from church.
Margaret Vernon Robateau
“Just as I reach the lane, a little young boy say, good morning Miss. He said I sympathize with you. I say, for what, son? He said ney just shoot yo son around there. I said, can’t. That was my reaction to him.”
Police are exploring various motives behind Bradley’s tragic death. Although he had a past with the law, those close to him insist that he had turned over a new leaf, dedicating himself to his family and community. However, in 2024, Bradley’s twenty-four-year-old son, Jaheim, was arrested and charged with the Christmas Day murder of Richard Aranda. Authorities haven’t dismissed the possibility that this could be an act of revenge.
Jaheim
Chester Williams
“ It’s an angle we’re looking at, but at this time there’s nothing to substantiate that motive, but we highly believe so.”
According to Williams, the police are leaving no stone unturned in their investigation. One theory they’re exploring is that Bradley might have accidentally come across some illicit cargo while he was out fishing.
Chester Williams
“I cannot say that at this time. But you would know that Bradley himself has his own past. And so there are several possibilities we’re looking at. And there is nothing we can definitively point to as a motive at this time.”
Today, Bradley’s family and friends gathered at his home to grieve together and offer support to his distressed mother.
George Nolberto
George Nolberto, Friend of Deceased
“I no wa she wa brethren da like wa father. He take care of me. Anything I need, I Come da he. I da somebody very close to him, more than anybody else. Ten minutes before that happened, my pa rus, I mi deh right deh with ah di sit down before that happened. Ten minutes, ten to fifteen minutes before that happened. I mi deh right deh di chill with the man.”
Nolberto, who considered Bradley a father, explains that the entire community feels the loss of his generosity.
George Nolberto
“I never believe it because I coulda mi be the same one weh deh right there with ah too, the sit down right there at that time then, maybe I mi ah get harmed too, you know, depends on who come fi di man. But da mi a good man, he take care of my kids. He give my pikni ney money every day fi school. He, every kids weh pass, he make sure he hail ney fi a lee dollar, two, pencil books. When da Christmas he buy, like, we go and go buy five hundred dollars worth a gift and every pikni weh pass. He take care of all the pikni ney.”
With the shooter still on the loose, Margaret is pleading to be spared from further violence as she navigates her grief alongside her family.
Margaret Vernon Robateau
“I want to ask in a good Lord’s name for let nobody come and harm me and please protect me. I didn’t do anybody anything. I’m a nice Christian person and I don’t want nobody to come and hurt me. They take my son from me, my only sonfor me, a life for life. They say, but please don’t come and harm me.”
To avoid possible retaliation, Williams has instructed for an increased presence in Dangriga Town.
Chester Williams
“ I have directed Mr. Grinage, Commander Operations, to go to Dangriga Town immediately following the conference. So I guess he’s going to be on his field very shortly to sit to the commander in Dangriga to see what strategically we can put in place to avoid any retaliation. Certainly, yes we will look, we’ll be looking at increasing our operational presence in Dangriga Town to ensure we go after those persons who we believe are likely to do in retaliation.”
Last Friday, twenty-one-year-old Floyd McFadzean was tragically shot and killed while driving on Cemetery Road. Thanks to swift police action, eighteen-year-old Shenyon Levi Barrow, a fisherman from Belize City, was arrested the next day. Barrow was arraigned for the murder today, escorted to the Magistrate’s Court by special C.I.B officers, and remanded to prison until May twenty-fifth. Police allege that Barrow was the shooter who killed McFadzean and injured two others, Jaheim Bent and Troy Gentle. Consequently, Barrow also faces two counts of attempted murder and one count of dangerous harm upon Bent. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams shared details of the incident with reporters. He explained that officers responded to a report of a crashed white Fusion car at the corner of Johnson Street and Cemetery Road shortly after shots were heard. Behind the wheel was the deceased, Floyd McFadzean, a messenger from Neal Penn Road. Further investigation revealed that two individuals on a motorcycle had fired at the car, causing injuries.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Thursday night, early Friday morning, police responded to information of shots fired on Cemetery Road, Belize City. Um, upon arrival, they encountered a white car, and inside the vehicle was the lifeless body of a male person, that person was taken to the KHMH where he was pronounced dead. On arrival there were two other persons inside the vehicle who also sustained minor injuries. Those persons were treated and released. Police have since conducted investigation into that matter, which revealed that the white car had gone somewhere in St. Martin’s area and leaving out of St. Martin’s, they were followed closely behind by a motorcycle and reaching the area of Constitutional Park. They, one of the persons on the motorcycle fired multiple shots at the vehicle, causing the fatal injuries too. The victim police investigation have led to the arrest of a guy from the Martins era, I think his name is Barrow. He was charged for one point of murder and two convicts of use of deadly means of harm against the two other persons. Certainly there were persons in the vehicle who are of gun affiliates and I concur with the statement of the family of the disease that he’s not an active gang member per se, but like the, I think the father rightly mentioned that it could have been as a result of the company he kept because. While he’s not out there actively involving in gun activities, and indeed he’s a working person he do have friends who are a part of the George Street gang. And, we certainly believe that he was not the intended target, but again, he was the one driving the vehicle.”
The McFadzean murder, like many others, was carried out by men on motorcycles. Williams informed the media that he has directed his commanders to take strong measures to deter crimes committed by motorcycle riders. He emphasized that commanders have been instructed to “remove the capabilities” of those using motorcycles to evade the police. Additionally, Williams mentioned that they will concentrate on the city’s hot spots to curb such activities.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“Mr. Romero was not able to make it to conference today, but will be communicating with him very shortly and as I have been communicating with him over the weekend as well, making sure that we maintain our strong presence in certain areas of Belize City. And those areas in particular are George Street, the Martins area, and as well as the Port or the Caesar Ridge area. Those are areas of concern for us. We do this without neglecting our responsibility to the other areas of the city because you all know that every area on South Side Belize City does have the potential to have a flare up at any given time. So we have to ensure that while we cover certain areas. We still need to make sure that we have the other areas covered as well. So if it requires that we have to send additional manpower to the city to be able to quell the issue, then we are going to do that. But so far, I believe that Belize City has been kept a bit under control and we are hoping that if we can keep it that way or make it even better moving forward.”
Reporter
“Are you concerned with this new MO that has twice been used to target members of the George Street gang, where they aren’t necessarily in a gang turf, but they’re attacked in vehicles in drive-by shootings?”
Chester Williams
“Of course, every incident that has to do with violence we are concerned about. The issue is, as I said to my commanders this morning, that we have to pay keen attention to those gang members who are moving around on motorcycles. They are the problem and I have given them certain tasks this morning in conference. I’m not going to say what the task is, but we have to ensure that we do what we can to eliminate those persons who are using these motorcycles, they go and commit a crime. And when I say eliminate, I don’t mean to take them out, but I mean to remove the capabilities from them to be able to go and do these types of acts. They tend to use motorcycles because it is easy for them to maneuver through the traffic and even through narrow alleys and evade the police easily. So it is something we have been focusing on, but we need to pay more attention to.”
