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Senior Cop’s Vehicle With Two Kids Inside Shot By “Friendly Fire”
posted (September 3, 2018)
Police Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood has 22 years of experience in the police department. And that's why he was shocked beyond words when his vehicle came under what he believes is friendly fire from a specialized police unit yesterday afternoon just after 1:00. He was about to cross the Yabra Bridge with two of his friend's kids in the back seat when he heard a bang and realized his windows had been shot out. He told us more at the police station yesterday when he was making a complaint:...

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood- Shot at
"Jules, I could only say it's fire from no other than my own comrades. I was taking my time driving over Yabra Bridge and the only vehicle in sight was the MIT vehicle; when I heard a loud bang. I had two children, friends of mine's children, on the back seat. They were seated immediately behind me and after I heard that loud bang I heard them scream so I stopped on the bridge, checked on them and after checking on them I realized that the bullet did enter the rear passenger class. Now, this happened about 1:07. They are claiming that a shooting that took place on Penn Road sometime around 1:15 PM, the gun man was responsible for hitting my vehicle. If this is due to negligence of the police they must pay for their negligent act."

Jules Vasquez- Reporter
"Sir, but you are saying you saw an MIT vehicle."

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
"I am certain that there was a pickup parked next to Hurtense Turton's residence. Jules, I am from the Yabra area; I know everybody in that area. There is no reason for anybody in that area or from that yard to fire any bullets at my vehicle. And I was very appalled to see that they heard a shot near the police but they drove off instead of checking on the vehicle that you can clearly see the class was shattered."

Jules Vasquez
"And in your mind, the driving off implicates them?"

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
"It implicates them because, if you are the police, why won't you check on the vehicle that was shot at. It is not like I sped off after I was shot. My vehicle was shot and I stopped."

Jules Vasquez
"So, now you are making a complaint?"

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
"I made a formal report just now."

Jules Vasquez
"And you are requesting court action."

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
"Yes, court action because that is a criminal act. These people must pay and suffer the consequences."

Jules Vasquez
"Now, we could be here with a completely different story. Literally, we came within inches of a child or two children being mortally wounded."

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
"Myself could have been hurt."

Jules Vasquez
"Indeed."

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
"I don't know but the angels were with us because I am a good person, and I believe that if these people have any bit of decency within them, they should come up, own up to what they did and see if we can move forward."

Now, after the news went out yesterday and the media started asking about it in the official media chat, acting commissioner Chester Williams posted this message:, quote: "That is pure mischief yes a bullet caught his vehicle but from all indications it was not from not police firearm."

Sounds like he's already done his investigation! We asked Inspector Yearwood about it today:..

Jules Vasquez
"Since we spoke yesterday we have seen the acting Compol put in the media chat that that is pure mischief claiming that a police shot your vehicle, that it is pure mischief and that from what they know so far, it is not consistent with a police firearm."

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
"I do not intend to go back and forth with Deputy Commissioner Williams any at all. And his definition of mischief obviously is different from the one that I know. I would never deliberately endanger my life or any child's life especially my friend's children, so it is obvious that he has already come to his conclusion without investigating this scenario."

Jules Vasquez
"Now, mischief, as we discussed earlier, implies that when someone is guilty of mischief or conducting a mischievous act means that they created a situation. So, the suggestion there is that your claim is mischievous is that somehow you set this up."

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood
"Just to ease his mind, I would never ever put my life in danger to prove any point to anyone, not even him. So, if that is his definition and his conclusion then that is a very serious professional synopsis on his part of what took place yesterday. I will stick to what I am saying that I know exactly which direction that bullet came from and my 22 years of experience as a street cop and detective allows me to pass that kind of evaluation. I was really insulted by that suggestion but then again, what am I to expect? What am I to expect?"

And while the top cop seems t have already reached a conclusion, the top investigator says he'll wait and see:..

Jules Vasquez- Reporter
"Fitzroy says his vehicle was shot at 1:07 pm."

ASP Alejandro Cowo- OC, CIB, Belize City
"That's what he said, it happened just before the Akeem one."

Jules Vasquez
"But the Akeem one happened closer to 1:20."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"It was about 1:20 or 1:25, yes."

Jules Vasquez
"Okay, because one of the main arguments he makes is that the Akeem shooting had already happened but I think that the police are saying that his vehicle was inadvertently shot by criminal elements while they were pursuing Akeem. Is that what the police are saying?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"No, there is nothing like that."

Jules Vasquez
"Okay, so who shot Fitzroy's vehicle?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"That is something that we still do not know."

Jules Vasquez
"Well, the acting Compol has said that, he has said on the record that it is not the MIT, not police elements and that it is an act of mischief. Just saying what he is saying."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"That is why; I said that we, up until now, cannot establish who shot Mr. Yearwood's vehicle."

Jules Vasquez
"But the acting Compol has concluded who did NOT shoot Mr. Yearwood's vehicle."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Well, yes he said that."

Jules Vasquez
"But are you all looking at the MIT?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes that is an allegation that he had brought that he suspects that it was them but the investigation is still going on. So far there is nothing to indicate that it is any member of the MIT who were parked at that location."

Yearwood has retained attorney Anthony Sylvester.

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