7 News Belize

No Criminal Charges For Brutal Cops
posted (January 7, 2019)
There will be no criminal charges for the two police officers caught on camera giving a vicious beatdown to an unconscious man. Today Acting Commissioner Chester Williams came to the forefront to say that they should bne charged, but there's nothing more the police can do because the victims don't want to press charges.

Now this is very different from what Jamir Leal told us on Friday. He told us that he and his family have all intentions of pursuing charges and filing suit. So what is the deal? Well, as it turns out, Deputy Compol Chester Williams also saw that interview and was just as perplexed as to why they are not cooperating with police. Here is what he told us at the police press briefing this morning.

DCP Chester Williams, Ag. COMPOL
"Based on that interview I redirected the members of the Professional Standard Branch to go back to San Pedro with a view to re-interview the individuals, hoping that they would have change their mind, based on what I saw with 7news interview and again that was done and they still refused to cooperate with investigators. In light of that, we are left where we cannot proceed with any criminal charges against the officers. But from a view of the video footage which I have said from the inception is very disturbing. I have nonetheless directed Professional Standard Branch to proceed with disciplinary charges against the officers. To be frank with you, I do see what could justify the actions of the police. It is clear in the video that men were on the ground helpless and action to the police beating at them, I don't see how that could be justified in any way. Even if they were involved in a brawl before. The fact is you already have the matter under control. Then what you need to do then as a police is to detain and take them to the police station and not beat on people the way they were."

So while the two individuals will not be criminally charged, they will be facing internal disciplinary charges on two counts: One for the beat down of a subdued individual and the other for allowing a civilian to beat an individual on the ground.

And while that is the action being taken as far as the police are concerned, the family has said it will sue the police department. That is because the police department. Williams said they expect a lawsuit.

DCP Chester Williams, Ag. COMPOL
"They have expressed the fact that they have obtained the services of an attorney and they will be suing the officers and the police department by extension, the Government of Belize. So when that lawsuit comes then we surely will have to deal with it."

Reporter
"Is there a reason why they are not forthcoming with the police?"

DCP Chester Williams, Ag. COMPOL
"I cannot say if there is a reason. I don't see why they should be distrust, because the officers who went are not officers from San Pedro, they are officers from Belmopan who work with the Professional Standard Branch and there is no connection between those officers and the officers who worked in San Pedro. I would have hope that we would have obtained their support. We took 2 bite at the cherry and if they refused, there is nothing much that we can do where that is concerned."

And, oddly, the family of the victim is also being tight lipped with the media. We attempted to get in contact with them for clarification on these recent developments but they declined comment. All the mother of the victim told us was that she requires time to speak with her family. When asked about their unwillingness to cooperate she simply said her children went in to give their statements and that is that.

And while the family reserves comment, police cannot. The embattled Department is being judged in two courts, the court of and the court of public opinions. The latter, which Deputy Compol Williams says, is relentless in its criticism.

DCP Chester Williams, Ag. COMPOL
"We have seen on social media where we, the police are still being criticized over what transpired in San Pedro and the actions that we had taken. I need to make it clear that we are a country of laws and while people may wish to see that the police act swiftly in dismissing members of the department who they believe may have done wrong, our laws do provide a mechanism. A system of due process that officers and any public officer must go through before a dismissal. We cannot act in such a way that whatever we do is contrary to the laws that governs our actions, because then that will open us to lawsuits."

We'll keep trying to get comment from the family.

Police have just notified us that PC Tyrell Rowley was arraigned today for 2 counts of prejudice to good order and discipline and PC Samir Medina for 1 count prejudice to good order and discipline. Both pleaded not guilty. Case was adjourned to 21.1.19.

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