Email

Print

A ring of corrupt cops masterminded the armed robbery at the Social Security Board in Belize City two weeks ago and the robbery/murder at the Scotia Bank Branch in Spanish Lookout. It is news that’s so shocking – you’d think we were joking, that it was some April Fool’s Day prank. But this is no prank – this is the story that was laid out today by the Commissioner of Police and the Prime Minister. They did so at a special press conference which was called after a sting operation last night which yielded results that has shaken the Police Department to its core. The event was held at the Raccoon Street Police Station and 7News was there.

Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
“Let me start off by saying the incident in Spanish Lookout took place with the assistance of persons we believe to be members of the Belize Police Department. We believe that we have stumbled upon, if you can call it that, a ring being led by a very unscrupulous criminal minded police officer. That police officer from the information we’ve gathered so far may have a hand in the incident in Spanish Lookout and in the incident at Social Security, may have had a hand in several other incidents in Belize City.”

A stunning revelation that became even more so when Jeffries laid bare the details of this insidious plot.

Crispin Jeffries,
“We believe the incident that took place the day before yesterday in Spanish Lookout was such that it could not have been done without proper organization and support. But we know, and I’ve always heard in my many meetings with Mr. Blackett that these young fellows out there can’t be so intelligent to be doing some of these things without being informed from the inside.”

More than just informed, Jeffries says they were aided and abetted by police who knowingly misdirected investigators.

Crispin Jeffries,
“I believe he and other officers were involved in misdirection.”

It is a stunning indictment and it doesn’t end there – there is what the Prime Minister calls a ring of corrupt cops.

Hon. Dean Barrow, Prime Minister
“There is a ring that was operating and that all the incidents that Commissioner listed are in fact connected, that this ring is responsible for every single one of those incidents and that the ring was being masterminded by a serving police officer. The statements, I don’t mean necessarily written statements, but the statements that the police was able to obtain from those in custody, make it clear that it was not just this one police officer and the public should know that by the end of the day other police officers will at the very least be suspended and that as a consequence of last night’s operation, the ring is now broken.

There were other targets that were on the list of places to be hit by the ring. With some of them in custody, with some on the run, there is no possibility of that happening anymore and the owners of businesses in Belize City can feel reassured. We are not suggesting that the breaking up of this ring brings to an end criminal behaviour with respect to robbery but we know from that details provided by the persons in custody that this particular ring was responsible for every single one of the incidents that the Commissioner detailed and its very important to put that out there because in effect the Police Department has now been able to solve what was up until last night these unsolved cases of robbery and murder.”

And how this case was solved by Superintendent Broaster and Senior Superintendent Blackett is a quite remarkable story which started last night with a routine police check on Central American Boulevard.

Crispin Jeffries,
“Sometime after ten o’clock last night there was an incident in the St. Martin’s De Porres area where at one of the police traffic checkpoint a vehicle was intercepted and in that vehicle some suspicious characters were seen and two of the three were taken into custody. One fled leaving a firearm behind. That matter is being dealt with but two of those persons who were taken into custody were spoken to.”

One of them cooperated with police divulged that they were on a mission to rob Chon Saan Restaurant.

Crispin Jeffries,
“The information is that they would have been targeting a known restaurant in the city. From that the team on duty, Mr. Blackett, quickly mobilized additional manpower and launched a counter operation. A sting operation was set up and in that process it was learnt that a police officer was the mastermind coordinating some of these incidents.”

That sting operation involved putting a false report on the police radio that Chon Saan had been robbed. After that, the witness cooperating with Blackett and Broaster called the police mastermind and told him that he had robbed the restaurant and had the money but the area was swarming with police so he was hiding under this house on Baymen Avenue near GS Com and needed the constable to come pick up his share.

Crispin Jeffries,
“The particular person was to communicate to the police officer that the proceeds of the robbery is being shared and he should come for his amount and he did that.”

Jules Vasquez,
“And how was he caught red handed?”

Crispin Jeffries,
“Because he was lured out by that signal, he was called to come for his share and he came.”

The police mastermind did appear in a white taxi van and collected the money, reportedly marked bills. Police were encircling the area and caught him with the cash – a subject of emphasis for PM Barrow and glee for COMPOL Jeffries.

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“He was caught red handed. Last night Mr. Blackett and Mr. Broaster set up a sting and this man was caught red handed so there is no question about his being charged and no question about him being the leader of the ring.”

Crispin Jeffries,
“We have taken that police officer into custody and he after thorough investigation over the next few hours will be arrested and charged. Rest assured that he will not be released until he appears in court. You need not have to picket the station to find out who he is. You will find out when he appears in court on Tuesday.”

And while the relief and self satisfaction was palpable, this arrest is only one link - maybe the master link in this police led crime ring.

Crispin Jeffries,
“We believe that if this is the ring or one leader of the ring, we will come up with more. Whether he have people above him in rank, that will come out.”

Hon. Dean Barrow,
“But there are police officers that the evidence makes pretty clear were also involved and by the end of the day those persons will at the very least be put on administrative leave, be suspended, we ought to use I think stronger term. Whether the kind of evidence will be forthcoming to be able to convict those additional officers is a matter that has to wait until the investigation is completed. But I am satisfied based on what Mr. Broaster and Mr. Blackett told me that there is enough to make it clear that none of these officers can remain in the Belize Police Department.”

Jeffries says the ring so far involves constables corporals and possibly and inspector. Today Jeffries, finally with a win after a long and difficult losing streak was relieved.

Crispin Jeffries,
“I don’t think that I’m standing here as a marble statue Jules, I have feelings. I believe that as the Prime Minister said to you, I’ve come under a lot of pressure, not only from himself but from you and many others in the media because people believe that I am not doing a good job. I am doing the best I can.”

And now he says he is demanding the same from his police officers.

Crispin Jeffries,
“No holidays for the police. If you’re off, you’re resting to come back on because we want you to feel safe, the Belizean populace need to know that the Belize Police Department is here to provide safety and security. It is not just a text message or a flyer that we sent out to tell that they’re doing things.”

But he did have a very tough message for ruthless criminals.

Crispin Jeffries,
“If we are confronted or they are confronted, we will have to speak to people in the court system thereafter because they will be shot and killed when they are caught. There is no doubt in my mind that if they can operate with impunity, we will have to respond in similar manner. We don’t want any of that but it is necessary to safeguard the citizens and to enjoy a safe Easter by us taking these types of action.”

And while the Commissioner is emboldened, it’s yet to be seen if a skeptical public will be relieved or still worried that there are still greater depths of criminal collusion in the Police Department.

Jeffries would not say how long the ring has been in operation. According to our information, the officer who is detained is a Detective Constable attached to the CIB Branch in Belize City. The officer is detained pending charges but is not cooperating with police. The man who implicated him and successfully lured him to the scene is cooperating and he is considered the single lynchpin in what may be the biggest case in modern police history. And to make sure the case is airtight, Jeffries announced that the department would be hiring a legal expert full time to deal first with this and then other cases.

As we noted in the story, the other four officers indirectly implicated include constables, corporals and possibly an inspector of police. And does it include the officer who the Galvez family says killed Chris Galvez? On this, COMPOL Jeffries said, “that officer has been in contact (with this group) in the past – but whether he is directly involved is being investigated at this time.”