A Belize City man is complaining tonight that a group of police officers from one of the strike teams in Eastern Division abused its authority. He says they beat him badly, confiscated over $2,000 from him, and when they released him, they only returned $300.
So, how did he come in contact with the cops? Well, he says that he went partying last night at the bar, Sit and Sip.
From his accounts, he was enjoying himself, and the police officer acting as security at the establishment had no problem with his conduct or behavior. He claims that officers from this strike team entered the bar, and after they observed him, they started harassing him.
He explained what happened, and why he thinks that that the officers stole from him after the beatdown. Here's what he had to say - he asked to speak off-camera, and that his name be withheld:
Voice of: Victim - Claims Police Abuse
"I was in Sit and Sip partying last night. The men just came. I was enjoying myself, not knowing that at the end of the night, these men will chance me."
Daniel Ortiz
"These guys, who, sir?"
Voice of: Victim
"The man them."
Daniel Ortiz
"Which man, sir?"
Voice of: Victim
"The police from the strike team, a lot of the officers. Anyways, I was beside the bar, sitting down, and enjoying myself. Afterwards, before the night was about to end, the men just grabbed me, rough up me, for no reason apparently. Look at how I am bloody, family? They beat me up, took away my money from me. I had a $2,000 on me. I had a good amount of money on me - took me to the station, lock me - all kind of thing. They didn't even take me to the hospital. Now, they will want to give me $300. This is what they are trying to say out of my money, $300 is all I had on me. I know what kind of money I had on me. When I am partying, I party hard. I enjoy myself, but I had a $2,000. This is what they - this is what went on. They robbed me, outright. That's outright robbery. What, is the Government not paying them enough? Do they need my money to help maintain their children. That's is outright chance. I work hard for my money. This have to stop. A man can't go out anywhere in society and party and enjoy himself as a ghetto youth? This is robbery; this is outright robbery."
Daniel Ortiz
"Did they even say - give you any kind of explanations to justify what they did?"
Voice of: Victim
"They were trying to say I was drunk and disorderly in my conduct. Listen to me. How will be that nobody else - the officer who was working security, have no problem with me? It was only these officers who came from doing their job, or whatever, they have problem with me. They must have known me from way back, came in there, watch how we were enjoying ourselves, watch my paper, and how I am spending a lot. That's my paper. I work hard for that. I enjoy my paper how I want to enjoy my paper. That means you will rob me of my paper? What are you trying to say? I don't have anything to do with my paper? Are you trying to say that you have better use for my paper? So, you will rob me outright? That's not necessary. They will chance me, beat up me, bust me up, take me in the mobile, knock me out. That's how they got to me because if it is left to me, I will fight with them. They can't take my money from me just like that. I will fight with them. But, they had to knock me out for it. That's what caught me."
He says that he intends to make a formal complaint against the officers. He says that he can remember each of their faces, and he'll be able identify them to the Professional Standards Branch.
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