Email

Print

Two weeks ago law enforcement authorities held their heads low when a Police and BDF patrol lost an M-16 rifle after they claimed to have fallen asleep. Tonight there is another grave accusation of wrongdoing – but this time it’s not indiscipline; instead, a policeman and a soldier are accused of complete lawlessness. Today Police Constable Derrick Gideon, civilian Juan Cus and BDF Private Justin Casimiro appeared in San Pedro’s Magistrate Court jointly charged for kidnapping, aggravated burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and harm.

The charges arise out of compliant made by Juan Perez a vegetable Vendor. He told police that that early on Sunday morning between 12:15 and 1:00 am, he was sleeping on a boat at the Old Football Field when the trio – including the pair of lawmen who were dressed in civilian clothing – arrived with Cus. Perez says they told him he had to go to the police station, and they also allegedly hurt his assistant with a firearm. Perez got into their golf cart but realized that he was not being taken to the police station and jumped out – but not before he claims they robbed him of $650. The trio were detained early the next morning and formally arraigned today.

Today the second in charge at the San Pedro Police Ernell Dominguez told us how the department responded to the complaint of lawmen acting like thugs. We have his interview courtesy the San Pedro Sun.

Sgt. Ornell Dominguez, San Pedro Police
“These people boarded the boat, one of them under the assume name of being a police officer and their purpose was to search the boat for drugs.”

Kainie Manuel, San Pedro Sun
“It turns out that person was indeed a police officer.”

Sgt. Ornell Dominguez,
“Yes the person was a police officer. He was not assigned to the San Pedro Police. He has been deployed in Belize City. As a matter of fact he is in Belize City officially and from time to time he is seen around San Pedro. His name is from the record, Police Constable Derrick Gideon. As a result of our investigation we found out that one of the other persons was a BDF Justin Casimiro and he is a BDF assigned to the group of BDF that from time to time come down to San Pedro to assist with police duties.

After they boarded the boat they searched the owner of the boat and during the process of doing so they took away some six hundred and odd dollars from him, to be exact more or less about $650 in Belize and American currency.

One of the things we need to make clear here is that every member of the Police Department is a human being. They are subject from time to time for different changes and some of these changes they adopt from ill-discipline growing up or ‘brought up’ so to speak. But the Police Department is not responsible or the Police Department is not breeding those sort of behaviour nor attitude which may amount to criminal activity by members of the Department.”

Because kidnapping charges are dealt with at the Supreme Court level, all three were remanded to Hattieville Prison until their next court appearance on April 7th, 2010. Gideon who is attached to the Belize City was additionally charged for resisting arrest.