Obstruction Trial of Sgt. Walton Banner Begins

The trial of interdicted Sergeant of Police Walton Patrick Banner, thirty-six, kicked off today in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court before a senior magistrate. Sergeant Banner, a resident of Lemonal Village and a member of the Belize Police Department, is accused of obstructing a police officer during an arrest. Allegedly, on April first, 2024, at the Castleton Horse Track in Burrell Boom Village, he prevented Corporal Shane Cabral from arresting Julian Reynolds. The trial began around ten o’clock this morning, with Prosecutor Alifah Elrington calling two of her five witnesses. The trial adjourned at noon and resumed at two p.m. Sergeant Banner is represented by attorney Leeroy Banner. This morning, witnesses PC Mendez and PC Travis Zuniga, part of the Special Patrol Union (S.P.U.) team, testified. PC Mendez recounted that after a horse race, he and his team were dispersing a crowd when they were alerted to a fight in the parking lot. They saw several men fighting and throwing objects. Mendez described seeing a man in a green t-shirt and blue jeans swinging a machete, injuring another man. Corporal Shane Cabral fired a warning shot, causing the crowd to scatter. The officers detained the man with the machete. Mendez testified that while escorting the detainee, he heard someone shout, “Dah you cause all ah dis. You are a Sergeant of Police. You should know better.” He identified the man as Sergeant Banner, who was being boisterous and using insulting words, causing a group of females to surround the police mobile, hindering their duties. The detained individuals were eventually taken to the Ladyville Police Station. Under cross-examination, attorney Banner suggested that PC Zuniga fabricated his testimony, which Zuniga denied. This afternoon, PC Christian Reyes and Corporal Shane Cabral also testified. The prosecution has one more witness to call, and the trial will continue Thursday, January twenty-third, 2025.