Local News

Another case of alleged police brutality has been reported in Southern Belize.  Correspondent Harry Arzu has the details.

HARRY ARZU

Dangriga Correspondent

Love FM

“The Cal family from Red Bank Village in the Stann Creek District alleges that Independence Police officers acted very unprofessional when they used excessive force during a domestic dispute within the family.  Valentine Cal is a member of the family; he said that the police terrified the family with their big guns and rogue behavior on Friday, July 27 in their home.  He tells us more:”

VALENTINE CAL

Family member

“The incident occurred in our home last week Friday.  A report was made to the Police station in Independence Village about a domestic dispute between my brother and his common-law-wife over child custody.  The mother always abandons the child; the police came to our house demanding the child who was left abandon by his mother.  Unprofessionally, the police officers came to our home demanding the child and started to beat up my brother who was trying to help to calm the situation and got beaten up in the process.  My elderly grandmother was shaken as she watched her children being beaten up and were not wrong during the commotion and the continuous beating up of my brother.  Excessive force was not necessary and the abuse of police power.  PC Ferguson and his twelve colleagues took advantage of us and pontificate the problem.  We need police officers to serve the people and not destroy the people.  We are asking the good police officers to look into this abuse of power.”

HARRY ARZU

Dangriga Correspondent

Love FM

“Independence Police say that they were only trying to do their jobs.  They also said that the dispute was solved in a way to suit the situation.  Police say that the two brothers in question were arrested and charged with threatening words and assaulting a police officer.  A similar incident occurred in Hopkins Village where 20-year-old, Jacin Cho was allegedly brutally beaten by Hopkins police officers over the weekend.”

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