Tonight Police are looking into the origin of a military issued night vision device, that was recovered over the weekend along with several firearms and rounds of ammunition, and which might have been stolen from the Belize Defense Force.
The force's Chief of Staff, Lt. Colonel Requena told 7 News this afternoon that he can confirm that he's been contacted by the police, and is aware of the Night Vision Goggles inquiry. He says the BDF is checking its inventory and has asked all its patrol units, especially those on the Belize-Guatemala border, to give a full account of the ones in their possession.
The device is part of a cache of weapons recovered by Ladyville Police who were in the middle of an investigation involving the assault of a Flower's Bank resident which happened last Friday, January 6th.
Police say they received a report that a man was accosted by four unidentified male persons and was viciously beaten and robbed of a 12 gauge single action shotgun.
Their subsequent investigation of that assault led them to a Mangrove area located on the banks of the canal leading from Belama Phase 2 to the Western Highway. A joint operation by CIB and Special Branch personnel led to the recovery of a stash of weapons which included the stolen 12 gauge shotgun, along with a 223 Bolt Action Rifle, One sawed off 16 gauge shotgun, Twenty 9 millimeter ammunition, Three 5.56 rounds of ammunition, Four 16 gauge cartridges, and One 12 gauge cartridge. Both the firearms and ammunitions were found stored in a PVC pipe.
Owner of the 12 gauge shotgun, Joshua Trapp who says he was on a hunting expedition along with the Flower's Bank resident when the incident happened, told 7 News how he got separated from his friend and later, came upon his friend beaten and bruised minus the shotgun.
Joshua Trapp - Hunting Partner Assaulted by 4 Men
"About an hour to an hour and a quarter after hunting, my headlamp battery went down, and my buddy went home to pick up some batteries. He took about a half hour or a little bit more, and it concerned me. So I went looking for him, and that's when I found him on the ground in blood."
Jim McFadzean
"Was he able to communicate to what happened?"
Joshua Trapp
"Yes, well he was still traumatized at that moment when I asked him what happened. He said that someone jumped him. That's where my concern was because it's his family, and he was right in front of his house. I saw that my weapon was missing. Right away, I called the police, and they responded immediately. From there we started an investigation that led to the discovery of the weapon on Saturday night."
Jim McFadzean
"What type of injuries did he sustain, and how many people were involved in the assault?"
Joshua Trapp
"The injury that he sustained was a blow over the eye, and one on the ear with a pistol; they pistol-whipped him, and they hit him a few times in the stomach. He mentioned to me that it was 4 people who were involved in this assault."
Jim McFadzean
"And have you determined whether the attack was solely to steal the firearm, or was this just a random attack?"
Joshua Trapp
"I think it was just a random attack. They saw the opportunity to get a weapon, and that's what happened."
Police say that they have one suspect in custody, a BDF Lance Corporal, who they believe might be able to assist them in their investigation, and provide them with answers, especially as it relates to the military issued night vision device.
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