Police Officer Charged for Obstruction  

Inspector Walton Patrick Banner, a police officer, has been released on bail after being accused of obstructing another officer during the detention of a suspect involved in a stabbing incident at the Horse Race in Burrell Boom Village over a week ago. Banner appeared in court unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted bail in the sum of one thousand dollars plus one surety of the same amount. Despite initial concerns about conditions for bail, it was determined that Banner and the complainant officer did not work together, so no conditions were imposed. Banner is expected to be placed on interdiction, receiving half pay, and is due back in court on May ninth. According to investigators, police officers were responding to a violent altercation at the horse race track. Julian Austin Reynolds, armed and allegedly involved in injuring another person, was being detained by police when Inspector Banner allegedly intervened. During the fight, B.D.F. soldier Clint Stevenson was stabbed. Today Police Commissioner Chester Williams updated the media.

 

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We have the ongoing rivalry in the Belize River Valley area involving three villages are the villagers from three villages. That is Lemonal, Bermuda landing and a Doublehead cabbage. A number of persons were detained over the weekend  and the police conducted investigation to  ascertain the extent of these individuals involvement in the ongoing rivalry.  A number of persons  will be charged for varying degree of offenses. And one of those persons who have been charged is Sergeant Walton Banner. He was charged for obstructing the police. This resulted from his conduct when police detained those persons who were wanted for a chopping that took place at the horse race on Holy Saturday, where he allegedly obstructed the police officers from detaining the suspects. So he has been charged for obstruction in respect thereof.”