7 News Belize

Police Driver Not Charged For Knocking Down "Little Feet"
posted (June 17, 2020)
Last month we told you about the tragic end of Camalote resident Roy Lincoln Vansen who was knocked down by a police mobile shortly after midnight.

Vansen who suffered from a congenital deformity had led a hard life making a living by doing odd jobs for market vendors in Belmopan and often having to make what, for him, was a painful journey to work, by foot.

And when he died there seemed to be no one to speak for him. No one except the commissioner and while he consoled the family he seemed to view the accident as an inconvenience.

Jules Vasquez
"No charges are forward for the police officer who knocked down the gentleman, he was from Roaring Creek, but I think it happened in Camalote Village. This was 11:30 that night, no charges and in fact you expressed a perverse apology for the police, not for the victim. Is there no equal treatment or equal protection under the law for this victim? We know that once you knocked down somebody you face the charges."

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I really and truly refute your comment."

FILE: May 29, 2020
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

"It is an unfortunate situation for us. The police officer in question, arrangements are going to be made for him to undergo counseling because for him it is hard as well. It's not something easy to know that you have taken the life of someone unintentionally."

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"When I spoke of that accident I did express our sincere condolence to the family. At the end of the day a life lost is a life lost and its one that cannot be brought back and may I also tell you that it is not in every case of accident that charges are brought against the driver of the vehicle. You would agree with me that there are several factors that needs to be look at. You have to look at who is at fault, you have to look at the circumstances that lead to the accident. We have had cases where police officers had been killed in accidents and nobody charged, because the evidence is just not there to charge the other side. What we have done in the matter in Camalote is that the file is being prepared if not yet prepared and will go to the DPP as we have done in many other cases. The only time we would charge instantly is where there is overwhelming to show exactly who is at fault and then we will proceed with charges immediately as you would see we did with the police officer in Dangriga Cpl. Elijio. So say that when police officers are involved that we are slow to lay charges is an unfair comment and I wish you would retract that. In respect to this one again, I do not know the circumstances so I am not in a position to say whether or not charges would be brought immediately or will have to send the file to the DPP as we have done in many other cases. It's a matter that we have to look at as soon as we have got the facts."

We'll let you know if and when charges are filed.

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