Turning now to police news, Guinea Grass resident Minor Betancourt found himself in the northern Regional Hospital over the weekend after what was supposed to be a fun night out. He had gone to a nightclub with a family member but it was on their way out that Betancourt's companion was pulled aside by the police, his offense?: failure to wear a mask.
Betancourt reportedly approached the cops asking for the release of his companion, that's when he was allegedly shot to the chest with a round of rubber pellets from a 12 gauge shotgun. The shocking pictures of his injuries have been making the social media rounds all weekend and have caused enough alarm to force the police department to address them. Officer Commanding Professional Standards Branch, Superintendent Dwayne Sutherland says that the young man has yet to file a police report but that he is more than welcome to do so.
Sources from the community say that in the aftermath of the incident Police drove off and leaving Betancourt on the ground bleeding.
Bar Brawl In Armenia Leads to Maim
A weekend bar fight in Armenia village has left one man chopped and a female bartender maimed. It happened just after 10:00 on Saturday night when Walter Castillo attacked a pair of brothers with a machete. They managed to subdue him and tonight he is the one in the Western regional hospital. Residents say that more police presence is needed in the village. And this morning ACP Myvette responded saying that while a police man is posted to the area, he isn't always there.
ACP Joseph Myvette "On Saturday night sometime after 10:00pm there was a fight inside a bar in Armenia village just outside of Belmopan where one of the victims who was the aggressor at that point and was armed with a machete was attacked by two brothers where he was disarmed and several chop wounds was inflicted to him by those persons. He is admitted to the western regional hospital in a stable condition while those persons are being sought in relation to this investigation."
"A number of operations have been carried out in the armenia area where a number of firearms have been found on those operations over the last two or three weeks. So, yes the matter is being addressed and there is a police posted there but from time to time he is not there. But the matter is being addressed at this point in time."
Reporter: "Can you tell us the condition of Daisy Samayoa the bartender that intervened when she was cut to the hand?"
ACP Joseph Myvette "She had a minor cut to her finger and she was treated and released the same night."
Walter Castillo remains at the Western Regional hospital in a stable condition.
Robbery In Jacintoville Injures American And Dog
And while that lawman will face jail time, two cruel and callous robbers are still on the run. That's after a home invasion they committed against an expat and his dog in Jacinto Ville. This morning ACP Myvette told us what the police are doing to get to the bottom of this robbery which has left the expat bruised and his dog with chop wounds.
ACP Joseph Myvette "On yesterday's date sometime after 5p.m. police were called to Jacintoville at the home of one Julian Fisher who reported to police that shortly before five whilst inside his yard he was approached by two dark complexion male persons wearing masks who demanded money and accosted him and took him inside his home where a search was conducted and he was relieved of an undisclosed amount of money, in the process he was injuries where he suffered several bruises and his dog received a large chop wound in the process which was inflicted by one of the assailants .The matter is being investigated and police are following several leads at this time in relation to this investigation."
The robbers ultimately made off with $2,000.00.
UBFSU Certified
After publicly complaining for 2 weeks, The University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union has finally been fully certified as the bargaining agent for 237 employees at the national university.
The Ministry of Labour announced this evening that a certification forum was held at the Labor Office in Belmopan. The forum had virtual and in-person participation from the representatives of the union and the university's management.
This evening, we spoke with one representative of the newly certified UB Faculty and Staff Union. He told us that the dialog with the UB Management has also improved to the point where the President, Dr. Clement Sankat, has made important disclosures to the faculty and staff. The President has shared what his recommendations will be to the Board of Trustees on how the university can best survive the over 7 million-dollar shortfall in revenue that is expected to take place.
The president has shared those proposals before taking them to the board, and the union representative told us that, quote, "There is a measure of equitability and soundness to them." End quote.
Forfeiture Case Proceeds
On last Wednesday's news, we told you about the continued prosecution of the 8 foreigners who police caught last year in the act of landing a loaded narco-jet on the Coastal Road.
Well, while that criminal matter is taking place in the Magistrate's Court, the police department is also pursuing a civil matter against them. Police is asking the court to order the forfeiture of the aircraft and 2 vehicles that some of the defendants were busted in.
As we told you, in September of last year, joint law enforcement teams intercepted a jet that was landed on the Coastal Road. The plane's crew were attempting to use Belizean soil to smuggle almost 3,000 pounds of cocaine.
All 8 accused were brought today before Senior Magistrate Tricia Pitts-Anderson for an application of forfeiture.
The matter was adjourned until tomorrow when the police prosecutor will make a few adjustments to his application. We'll keep following the latest developments in this case.
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ACP Joseph Myvette