Crime - Channel 5 Belize

Stolen WRH Toyota Hilux Returned

Last Thursday, reports surfaced of a stolen Toyota Hilux from the Western Regional Hospital. The vehicle’s GPS tracker was activated, and it showed that the Hilux was in Flores Peten, Guatemala. Authorities in Guatemala have since located and returned the Toyota Hilux back to Belize. An investigation is ongoing to determine how the vehicle was stolen and taken across the border. Today, Minister Bernard commended the quick response.

Kevin Bernard, Minister of Health and Wellness

“I don’t know the details of the truck. I was out in Chile at a summit on patient safety when my CEO informed me that a truck, one of the pickup was stolen. It is not about whether it was stolen it was about the quick response that our ministry and the personnel at the ministry and I must give my people kudos for that, because they got on board, they got in contact with the police and the police worked immediately and efficiently with us and that is how we were able to track that vehicle on the Guatemalan side and the Guatemalan authority worked very close with our ministry and also our police personnel that we were able to get that vehicle right back into the county the following day.”

Reporter

“Is it alarming that the security saw the vehicle leave at midnight and it didn’t raise any suspicions?”

Kevin Bernard

“Of course it does and I am sure that we are going to ensure the proper investigations are carried out to ensure those persons who were there to protect the investments of our people, which are the tax payers money to ensure they can answer to any questions that may arrive. I know the police is doing tis own investigation. I have not gotten any other details as it relates to that.”

Minister Musa Says Consequences for Rogue L.I.U Members

On Wednesday, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams indicated that the police had charged three persons in connection with a stash of drugs and high-powered weapons on an island. The island turned out to be St George’s Caye. The men are Edwin Flowers, also known as “Drive”, Gaston Barrow and Kenyon Dominguez. They have been remanded on drugs and gun-related charges until July twenty-second. But Flowers, who was employed by the Leadership Intervention Unit, will also be cut off from that office. Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa, explained that when the members of L.I.U. relapse to crime and violence, removing them from the unit is a natural consequence.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“It pains me a lot as Minister because we have been working a lot over the past few years with some of these young men. It’s not all of them who have indicated that they do not want to lead this life. And I could tell you right off the bat that last year, PIV was extremely quiet, was extremely dormant. They were complying. They were a part of the L.I.U. They were active in positive ways, and so it is very disturbing. But if you have been following the trends lately with the passing and the murder of Jose Matus, there was left a huge void. As you might have known, Mr Matus was a major supplier in Belize. And so perhaps the temptation got the better of them and based on these high-powered weapons, it’s quite possible that this new group is working along with cartel elements. And so we have to look at that possibility because these guns just don’t show up just like that. And as the cartels are always looking for someone to work with for the illegal supply of cannabis. And it’s been something I’ve been saying since day one when we got into office. This illegal trade of cannabis is killing so many Belizean young men because of the turf wars that were happening. And so if you analyze the situation, there seems to be some sort of a transfer of power when it comes to this particular trade and we will do our very best from the police department to nip it in the bud and to go after these bad actors. Because while last year you might have been complying, clearly this year you’re not.”

Did Other Police Officers Know about the Unnatural Crime?

The news this week that a police constable was charged with engaging in an unnatural crime with a fifteen-year-old boy at the Punta Gorda Police Station raised the ire of many individuals who lashed out on social media against the policeman. And when the media engaged him, the Minister of Home Affairs said that the investigation will also look at other police officers who may have known about the incident before or while it was happening and did nothing to stop it.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“That is certainly going to be a part of the investigation that is currently being carried out. But I join the commissioner of police in expressing the fact that I am extremely concerned. disturbed by this kind of news coming out of Punta Gorda by a police officer. Again, the people of this country have trust and confidence in the police department to protect us, to serve us, to keep us safe, not to be doing these kinds of things. And I know the argument can be made that we cannot control every single human being and what they are going to be doing. But this certainly is a black eye on the department and this certainly needs to be dealt with very stiffly.”

Details Sketchy of How Vehicle was Stolen and Taken to Guatemala

The Belize Police Department is working along with its Guatemalan counterparts to recover a vehicle that was stolen from Belize. The theft happened on Wednesday night at the Western Regional Hospital where a white Toyota Hilux was removed without authorization. The vehicle ended up in Flores Peten, Guatemala, but details of how it was stolen and taken across the border unnoticed are not known. Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa has indicated that the police are seeking the return of the vehicle.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“Very brief information I have. I don’t have the full details of it, but I am aware that our police department acted swiftly with their counterparts in Guatemala, and we will be getting that vehicle back.”

Reporter

“Do you know how they managed to steal it from the hospital?

Kareem Musa

“Yeah, I don’t know the particulars of the theft, no.”

Belizean Cyclist Kaya Cattouse Fights Off Robbers in Jamaica

Belizean cyclist Kaya Cattouse successfully fought off would-be robbers in Jamaica. According to Pedal Sisters, Cattouse was cycling to meet a cycling group when two motorcyclists attempted to steal her phone.

“The pocket part of her Jersey was ripped. She fought them off, and they were unsuccessful in stealing her phone. She continued on the ride that day.”

On a social media platform, Cattouse said “Bally actually pull up sida me while I di ride and shub eh hand eena MY pocket fu MY phone.”

“The Federation president Dr Wayne Palmer stepped in and she is now being escorted for the rest of her training/ vacation period for the upcoming Pan American Championship.”

Days before the incident, the Jamaica Cycling Federation put out an advisory regarding attacks on cyclists. Cyclists are advised to ride in groups with an accompanying bike or vehicle. The Federation says that thieves are targeting phones.

Gang Underboss and Two Associates Remanded for Drugs and Weapons

On Wednesday night, we told you about an operation carried out by the Special Patrol Unit on an island off the coast of Belize City. The organized action of the Belize Police Department to locate several gang members who fled from the Lake Independence area amid a state of emergency turned up more than just three men on Saint George’s Caye. S.P.U. personnel also discovered a quantity of illegal drugs, as well as a cache of high caliber weapons. This morning around nine o’clock, Edwin “Drive” Flowers, Gaston Barrow, and Kenyon Dominguez were escorted to the magistrate’s court after being taken into custody overnight. The trio, including Flowers, who is a ranking member of the Peace in the Village gang, is accused of having in its possession over twelve thousand grams of cannabis, two thousand, three hundred grams of cocaine, three high-powered rifles and two handguns. The men appeared unrepresented before a senior magistrate where they were charged jointly with two counts of possession of firearm and kept ammunition, as well as four counts of drug-related charges. Due to the nature of the offenses, bail was denied and Flowers, Barrow, and Dominguez were transported to the Belize Central Prison. However, prior to being taken away, Flowers sought permission to address the court and inquired how quickly a trial date can be scheduled for the pending matter. He was informed that the prosecution must first produce a case file which will be provided to them as part of the disclosure before a trial date is set. The men are on remand until July twenty-second when they will return to court.

Musa Says Illegal Weapons Cache is the Largest He’s Seen

Late this afternoon, Home Affairs Minister Kareem Musa touched briefly on the drugs and weapons bust carried out by the police department. He says it is arguably the largest supply of illegal weapons confiscated by law enforcement that he has seen in recent history. While Musa commended the S.P.U. officers for a job well done, he was unclear whether the operation also included assistance from the Belize Coast Guard.

Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs

“I am aware that the police made perhaps one of the biggest busts of high-powered firearms in the history of this country. I haven’t seen such a cache of high-powered firearms altogether at once, so I want to commend the police on their bust yesterday. In addition to that, a substantial quantity of cannabis and a substantial quantity of cocaine, as well, and so I think it deserves commending.”

Reporter

“Sir, did they collaborate with the coast guard, though, in tracking down this island?”

Kareem Musa

“To my knowledge, no, but I believe they did have a captain who may have taken them, who may have been attached to another department. I can’t say if it’s coast guard or not.”

Police Make Huge Gun and Drug Bust on Island Off Belize City Coast

A police operation on an island off the coast of Belize City yielded several high-powered rifles and a large quantity of drugs. On Tuesday, a team of police officers visited the island in search of individuals from the Lake Independence area who are wanted under the state of emergency. Not only were they able to locate three known gang members, but the officers also discovered five weapons, including two high-powered rifles and three handguns. They also unearthed twenty-six pounds of cannabis and five pounds of suspected cocaine. The island is believed to be used by members of the gang as a depot for their drug shipments and guns. It is a major bust for the Belize Police Department, as it seeks to crack down on the spate of gun violence in Belize City, even under a state of emergency. The guns are now being prepared for testing to determine whether they are linked to any crimes. Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, spoke with reporters this evening at the Racoon Street Police Station. He told us more.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Yesterday, police visited an island just off the shore of Belize City where searches were conducted and the search led to the discovery of twelve thousand grams of cannabis, parceled off in a few parcels and two thousand three hundred grams of cocaine that were in two separate kilo size parcels and one two, two, three rifle on the island, police also found three individuals from the PIV area. Those persons and the drugs and firearm were brought to Belize City for processing and the three individuals have since been arrested and charged for drug trafficking and keeping unlicensed firearm. We believe the island is used as a store house for the PIV gang members. When they get their shipment of drugs it would be taken to the island and then they would bring from the island to the city in small quantities. We went and conducted searches on two other islands where we believe the PIV has some connections to and on one of those islands, we found one M4 carbine rifle, one assault five-point seven caliber rifle, one twenty-two rifle, one point forty caliber handgun and one nine-millimeter handgun. Five firearms were found, three of which are rifles and two handguns. No one was on that island so those items will be deposited as found property. Police continue to do a number of searches in areas we believe PIV gangs, or any other gangs would have some connection to with a view to unearth their tools of trade as well as to see if we can find some of them who are still wanted under the SOE.”

Three Men Arrested and Charged in Relation to Major Drug and Gun Bust

As we said, three persons were found on an island off the coast of Belize City where police discovered drugs and guns on Tuesday. They are forty-one-year-old Edwin “Drive” Flowers, thirty-two-year-old Kenyon Dominquez and twenty-five-year-old Gaston Barrow. Flowers is no stranger to the law. He is said to be a former gang leader. Several attempts have also been made on his life. And, he has also been to court on charges of robbery and murder. Flowers was recently employed by the Leadership Intervention Unit. ComPol Williams was asked if the LIU is shielding known gang figures. Here is how he responded.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The LIU is vehicle that we are using to see how we can change the minds and hearts of these street figures. I can see where in some instances it is working. The LIU is not a shield for anybody and so I don’t want no one to believe that because a particular person is a member of LIU or works with LIU that they are immune from criminal liability or from the police going to their homes and search. I have always said that once police get information of anybody of crime or anything illegal the police is going to do what needs to be done regardless of who that person is. So “Drive” works closely with LIU. He is a person in the program, and we have tried our best to work with him and it goes back to what I have said. We police with a double-edged sword. We offer the dull side to the persons who want to change but once they start to perpetuate criminal acts, we have to use the sharp side of the sword and cut them off it is as simple as that.”

Police Say Video Shows Murder Victim, Michael Usher was With Female

On Monday night, Michael Usher was shot dead on Flamboyant Street in Belize City. It was a murder that had all the makings of a gang-related incident. Today, Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams told the media that Usher, who lived in Pinks Alley, had accompanied a woman to the area and that the department will release video evidence to determine the identity of the woman he was with, should a need arise.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“When I was notified of it I asked the same question to myself. What was he doing in P.I.V area, for the simple fact that we know that P.I.V and Majestic Alley do not see eye to eye and there is that issue between them. Again, from all indications, we know that he was lured to the area by a woman. We do have the video footage of him leaving Majestic Alley with that woman. We are still trying to identify who that woman is. We have the video. I might eventually release to the public to help us to identify who she is but we need to identify that woman to see what she can give the police in terms of why she took him to the P.I.V area. But again, I’m not going to say that it’s an act of jealousy but rather I believe that it is more a gang issue because he is from Majestic Alley. He was in the P.I.V area. The two do not see eye to eye, why they do have conflict with each other.”