Belize City man claims police harassment after being charged as a gang member

A Belize City man, who was charged with being a member of a gang, is claiming he is a victim of police harassment. Today, 35-year-old Ronlee Petillo was arraigned on charges of being a gang member but his family claims he is innocent. Petillo, who is no stranger to the law, was recently granted bail after he was charged with rape and aggravated assault with a firearm on separate occasions. His family says that since then, he is being targeted by both the police and members of the George Street Gang, which Petillo is an alleged member of. He pleaded not guilty to the offense, was denied bail, and was remanded to prison. On April 26, he was shot while socializing on Amara Avenue and according to his common-law-wife, Kishanna Boden, he knows who shot him. She claims that during a recent gang mediation meeting held with the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, Petillo tried to identify his attacker but his efforts were fruitless.

Notably, Petillo was acquitted of attempted murder in 2012, was the suspect in the 2022 murder of Emert Flowers, and was the suspect in the disappearance of Flower’s son, Kyle Latchman. Petillo was also involved and charged with numerous other crimes.