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Village Vigilantes Unleash Brutality on City Robbers
posted (December 16, 2019)
And keeping it in the Orange Walk District, a mob of vigilantes doled out some harsh village justice on two Belize City men - who allegedly came to their village to rob.

It was an unbelievable scene that started around 7:15 when two men in camouflage outfits held up the village grocer. They were caught a short time after in a scary and unforgettable scene. Here's the story:

Jules Vasquez reporting
This was the scene on Friday night when two men robbed Zhen Zhen store in Guinea Grass.

ACP Joseph Myvette - Head, NCIB
"On Friday last, police responded to a robbery at Zhen Zhen store in Guinea Grass, shortly after 9:20 p.m., where they were informed by the proprietor that sometime shortly before 9, he was approached by 3 dark-complexioned male persons, all wearing camouflage clothing. They were armed and demanded money. As a result, he was robbed of monies, cellular phones, and other items. Police conducting investigations in the area later came across two persons hiding in a yard. Those persons were identified as Leroy Haulze, 26-year-old, and Wilson Cayetano, 24 years old, both of Belize City Addresses. During the apprehension of these persons, Leroy Haulze, who was armed with a 9mm pistol, apparently pulled his weapon on one of the officers, causing the officer to discharge his weapon in Haulze's direction, injuring him to the left leg. So, he's hospitalized under police guard at this time. The police also recovered several camouflage jackets and pants, as well as other items, and some of the items believed to have been stolen from the complainant. So far, police have arrested and charged Wilson Cayetano for the crime of robbery, and I believe other charges are forthcoming. Leroy Haulze remains at the Northern Regional Hospital under police guard."

This was the scene as police had to pull the handcuffed suspect through the mob and dumped him in the back of the police mobile, blood streaming from his face.

A camera view from the other side shows how they were being beaten - as the vigilantes tried to jump into the police mobile to inflict more of a beating.

He was a battered and beleaguered suspect as as the mob rowdily cursed them and chanted "Guinea Grass."

His alleged accomplice literally had the pants beat off him as he was tossed - also handcuffed into the truck.

Wild howls escorted the police vehicle as it sped off.;

Reporter
"It had the appearance of vigilantism in it, and one of the persons seemed injured, at least the face was bloody. Do you have any explanation for us at this time as to how this person was injured and did the community play a role in the apprehension?"

ACP Joseph Myvette
"Yes, the community did play a role in the apprehension of these persons, and the injury, I believe, was as a result of the commotion whilst he was being apprehended by those persons along with the 2 or 3 police officers who were there as a part of the investigation."

Reporter
"I'll ask outright. Did the community put a beatdown on the robbers during this crime in progress?"

ACP Joseph Myvette
"I am not in a position to say that at this point."

Jules Vasquez
"There is a person who appears to be in boxers, in the back of the police pickup with a gun pointed at these individuals."

ACP Joseph Myvette
"At this point in time, I was trying to determine whether or not that person was an off-duty police officer who lives in the village. It may have been, but I'll have to verify that."

Reporter
"Is there any concern that maybe the community overstepped?"

ACP Joseph Myvette
"Yes, they were agitated, but our advice to them would be, at this point in time, to be cognizant of the fact that these robbers are always armed, or are usually armed. And they may put themselves in the way of danger. So then, simply passing that information to officers who armed and are trained to deal with these situations, would be best left to deal with these situations."

Police recovered about two thousand of the three thousand dollars in cash that was stolen.

Police have arrested and charged Dixon Montero from Antelope Street Extension,Belize in City, while his alleged accomplice is in the hospital with a gunshot wound to knee.

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