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Constables Rowley and Medina Will Face Criminal Charges
posted (January 8, 2019)
The San Pedro police brutality case has taken a completely different turn, a full 360. Now the two police officers will be charged criminally. They are PC Tyrell Rowley and PC Samir Medina. Disciplinary action has already been taken against the officers. As we have reported, on New Years night, Jamir Leal and his two brothers were at Playa Bar and Grill when something triggered Leal to assault his ex-girlfriend. He choked her. His brothers along with others got involved to try to get Leal to stop. But when PC Rowley and PC Medina arrived, things quickly escalated where Rowley clubbed Leal and gave him a massive blow to the head even though Leal was defenseless on the ground. Today Commissioner of Police Chester Williams held a press conference to discuss the change of course in this case and the charges that will be brought against the officers.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I personally reached out to the mothers of the three gentlemen yesterday and I explained to her my position and asked if she would be willing to come to Belmopan to see me so I could speak with her and her three sons and seek their cooperation in this matters. The mother was more than willing to agree to come to Belmopan and so we arranged for their transportation to Belmopan and they came in this morning and I spoke to the three gentlemen concerned and assured them that they need not fear any retribution from the police should they decide to cooperate with us in this investigation."

"And with that they were more than willing to cooperate. They have all given their detailed statements to the police and now I am pleased to say we have sufficient evidence now and we now have the two complainants and we will now be proceeding criminally against the two mentioned police officers."

"I think the charge will be wounding and harm."

Reporter
"Any timeline as to when they will be brought in, arrested and arraigned."

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well the statements were just completed and so I will now forward the statement to crime investigations branch in Belize City because I will have them deal with the criminal aspect of it and professionals standards branch will continue to deal with the internal aspect of it so I will be forwarding the statements to Mr. Cowo in Belize City with directives that he appoints an investigator to carry through with the criminal charges so we are anticipating that by Friday, he will be arraigned."

"If they are convicted criminally, the law do provide that the commissioner of police can dismiss you once you have been convicted of a criminal offense. The nature of the conduct they are being charged with internally that is an act to the prejudice of good order and discipline. It is an egregious breech of discipline. If convicted in the tribunal, that too can warrant a dismissal, it is very serious charges internally."

Now why has Williams taken such a keen interest in this case? Well, Williams admits that since taking up the post as deputy commissioner, this is the first time he has intervened in a matter such as this one but he says after seeing the video of the cruel beat down, he could not just sit back and do nothing.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well I think the video speaks for itself, when I looked at the video, I personally got cold seed. It is disgusting and we can't countenance behavior like that. I think as an organization we should do our best to ensure that the right thing is done and I decided to take that additional effort and reach out to the victims to see if we can get that support from them."

"I also want to assure the three gentlemen and any other person aggrieved by police officers that once it is that you decide to work with us to address the misconduct of our officers that we will do our best to ensure that no police officer targets you as a result of your cooperation."

And the Leal family will take Williams' word on it. We also spoke to Jamir Leal who told us he was afraid to press charges but Williams convinced him otherwise.

Jamir Leal, Police Brutality Victim
"First I was worried about our safety, knowing that they would still be out there and just get one week suspension and then I was worried about tour safety, I didn't want anything to happen to me but how Mr. Williams explained to us that they won't do us anything so we decided to press the charges against the officers who injured me. We can't leave it like that."

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"And in this case you believe that justice will be served?"

Jamir Leal, Police Brutality Victim
"Yes has to, I am a human, I wasn't supposed to be treated like that."

Reporter
"You have absolute confidence in the department and in Mr. Williams who reached out to you?"

Jamir Leal, Police Brutality Victim
"Yes I do."

The Leal family will NOT be suing the police department.

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