7 News Belize

Bedlam On Balam Street
posted (June 30, 2020)
The Commissioner was able to speak far more conclusively about an incident captured on Balam Street in Belize City over the weekend.

An off duty police officer is accused of obstructing a team of officers seeking to make an arrest.

The Commissioner today said his obstruction was not acceptable - even if the officers showed up to make an arrest for a petty bicycle offence:

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"That policeman Corporal Lopez who was off duty he did not sought to obstruct, he obstructed the police and his behavior out there on that day is inconsistent with what we expect of our officers. Let me say this, when the police go to detain somebody, I ask that you cooperate with the police, even if you believe the police have no right to detain you, cooperate with the police. When we have a police officer acting in the manner that Corporal Lopez did shouting at his colleague, pointing his colleague face and even used some derogative terms against the commissioner who was not even out there, it is unacceptable. The persons who the police sought to detain that he prevented the police from detaining had been picked up and I have directed that they be charged as the police had intended to charge them. In terms of Corporal Lopez, I have directed Professional Standard Branch to address that matter where he is concerned."

Reporter
"I think the intentions of the police officer is that they went to detain and apprehend individuals was on the basis of bicycle infraction, lights and bells, is that the case? Is that something that police officers tend to go after persons for?"

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"If you commit an offence, no matter how the trivial the office might be, the police have a right to arrest you and your duty is to comply."

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