Cop Charged with Extorting Tourists at Checkpoint
A police officer is facing serious allegations of extortion following a complaint by a Spanish-Mexican couple, who claim they were forced to pay money during a checkpoint stop on Newtown Barracks in Belize City. Manuel Ortiz, a 50-year-old mechanic, and his wife, Maribel Vargas, 51, reported to police that they were stopped last Friday, where an officer asked for vehicle documents they were unable to produce. According to their report, the officer then allegedly threatened to detain them until Tuesday unless they placed money on the back seat of the police vehicle. Ortiz complied, leaving 210 euros—about $580 Belize dollars—which the officer allegedly took.
After filing a report at Queen Street Police Station, police arrested and charged 38-year-old Police Constable Ausberto Daniel Pelayo, from Corozal Town, with extortion. Pelayo appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court alongside his attorney, Sharon Pitts, and pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail of $6,000 with two sureties of $3,000 each, which he met. Pelayo is expected to reappear in court on December 23rd, while police are considering potential disciplinary action against him.
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