San Ignacio Police have charged 7 persons in connection with last Tuesday’s
shocking armed robbery of $310,000 and the murder of a security guard at the
Scotia bank Branch in Spanish Lookout. As we reported, on Tuesday morning –
4 gunmen stormed the bank killing security guard Steven Lopez who was in the
parking lot. They then entered the bank and forced the employees to open the
vault where they helped themselves to $300,000 in various denominations. San
Ignacio Police have made several arrests and recovered some of the stolen money.
Leading the list of arrest is 21 year old Frank Edwards – a fisherman
from San Pedro. Police Press Officer Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood ran down the list
of other suspects.
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
“Frank Edwards has been charged for murder, robbery, and conspiracy
to commit robbery. Police investigations led us to these charges meaning that
he was being charged for the murder of Steven Lopez.”
Keith Swift,
“And then we have a number of people charged for abetment to commit robbery 
and failure to prevent a felony. Can you tell us about those?”
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood,
“Juan Salazar and Michael Rodriquez, they were charged for failure
to prevent a felony and one of them was charged for abetment to commit robbery
and the other conspiracy to commit robbery. The failure to prevent a felony
comes from the fact that they had knowledge that a felony was about to be committed
and they didn’t do anything in preventing this felony. They didn’t
notify the authorities, meaning the police.
Then we have additionally we have Luis Hernandez, Austin Mungquia, and 
Ervin Fernandez and Isolina Perez that have additionally be charged with handling
stolen goods. This is in connection with the recovery of $30,965 that has been
recovered so far and is believed to be from the same robbery incident.”
Keith Swift,
“Do we know on whom that money was found?”
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood,
“Well it is on these persons that I’ve listed. The information
led to the detention of these persons. These persons were mentioned as participants
in the crime and they were actively or just by holding on to proceeds from the
crime but they have since been arrested and charged for handling stolen goods.”
Keith Swift,
“Does the police still believe this Scotia Bank Robbery was a part of
this robbery ring?”
Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood,
“That I want to clarify. The robbery ring that we believe this police
officer orchestrated is within the confines of Belize City. This robbery at
Spanish Lookout had nothing to do with that specific officer, PC Mangar.”
We must say that Sgt. Yearwood’s clarification about the Scotia Bank robbery
not being linked to the ring of corrupt cops is a major revelation. Major because
the Commissioner of Police opened the press conference on Thursday by declaring
that connection, but now, it seems he just plain had it wrong.
Cayo Police tonight continue their hunt for the other murder suspects
– namely Frank Edwards’ brother Alexander Edwards along with Gabriel
Salazar, Benjamin Peters, and a third suspect believed to be from Melchor.
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