A man killed himself this morning in his cell block at the Orange Walk Police Station. Driver Luis Magana was detained last night in relation to a domestic complaint but when police went to check on him after 12:00 this morning, Magana was hanging by his neck with piece of cloth that he tied to the cell bar - he used a belt to secure the noose. Today Orange Walk Police told us that they are looking at several angles in this case - one being what led Magana to take his own life since there were no signs of that when he was detained, but also, how did Magana have his belt in his cell.
ASP Selvin Tillett, OC - Orange Walk Police
"Cpl. Jose Alfaro who is attached to the Orange Walk Police Station reported about 12:15am, he was informed that a male prisoner named Luis Magana, 29 years old Belizean driver of Trial Farm Village had hang himself in cell #3. As a result Cpl. Alfaro visited the said cell block which is located in the Orange Walk police station compound, where he saw Luis Magana hanging from a piece of cloth which was tied to the bar of the cell with a brown belt around his neck. Magana was motionless and was apparently dead inside the prison cell. The scene was examined, processed and the body was taken to the Northern Regional Hospital where he was pronounce dead on arrival."
"According to police, when he was detained outside, he was somewhat restless, but his arrival at the station he was calm, sitting down and he was taken to the cell block - no indication."
Reporter
"Is it not the norm for prisoners to be checked before they are placed in the cell?"
ASP Selvin Tillett, OC - Orange Walk Police
"When it comes to anyone being placed in cell block, it's a standard operational procedure to take off the person's belt, shoe lace and any other item which can be used to injure himself or others."
Reporter
"Do you know where the belt that he use came from?"
ASP Selvin Tillett, OC - Orange Walk Police
"As I said we are investigating and we will be looking if there were any negligence by any police officer."
Police say that Magana might have been drinking but the post mortem will provide more information in this case.
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