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Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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Policeman shoots at people's feet at Central Park

Island residents woke up this morning to shocking footage of an altercation that took place at Central Park, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize involving night club patrons and San Pedro Police officers. During the incident shots were fired by a police officer in which four bystanders were injured.

San Pedro Police Department reported the shooting incident taking place between 4:15am and 4:30am on April 1, 2017 at Central Park. Investigations from the police department reveal that officers were performing duties at Central Park when a fight ensued between patrons who were leaving Daddy Rock night club, adjacent to the park. The police intervened, however the matter escalated and one of the officers fired shots from his issued firearm resulting in four persons being injured.

The extent of the injuries have not yet been ascertained, but no one received major injuries, according to the police. Three people received injury on the foot and one to the eye.

Eye witnesses claim that the incident commenced with a women inside the club and a police officer who was allegedly drinking and/or intoxicated. When the altercation escalated outside the club, the woman was detained by the officer and handcuffed. It is then, our eye witness video footage shows the officers beating and kicking the woman as she laid on the ground while restrained in handcuffs.

Reports say that it was when bystanders attempted to stop the officer from beating the defenseless woman that shots were fired.


Police Shooting & Brutality San Pedro, Belize

Click here to read the rest of the article in the Ambergris Today


This is another video from an eye witness who documented the beginning of the altercation between island residents and members of the Quick Response Team of the San Pedro Police Formation. For many islanders, it's surreal what took place around 4:30AM this morning at the Central Park, when police officers failed to part a basic fight between two women, which almost escalated into a riot after officers used force on one of them.

According to witnesses, a fight ensued inside Daddy Rock night club and police. In the video, a woman is being beaten on the ground after she was taken out of the club. According to residents she was handcuffed, while police officers beat and kicked her senseless. This is what prompted many residents to confront the police offers. Things got out of control when an object (bottle) was hurled at the officers who responded with warning shots.

An investigation into the incident is underway by the Commander Professional Standard Branch. At the moment, the names of all police officers involved in the incident have not been released and no clarification has been given if they continue to be on duty.

The San Pedro Sun will continue following this developing story.




Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
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San Pedranos didn't run when shots were fired. Why?

It seems that there was a fight between two women on the main street of San Pedro Town after 4 a.m. Saturday April 1st. Instead of parting the fight in a civil manner, the Quick Response Team (QRT) decided to use force against the women. A video taken moments before the shooting shows the QRT beating one of the women. Residents allege the police officer beating the woman is QRT officer Jamal Madrill. Voices shouting "too effin chancey can be heard". Be aware profane language is used in the video. The beating of the woman according to several residents on the island who were at the scene is what prompted them to confront the police officers because they could not let the incident go. And that is why the officers were afraid, a bottle was thrown, and the shooting at the feet of residents occurred. It was clear that the residents, men and women would not run when QRT Officer Norman Coye shot at their feet nor did they run when QRT Officer Eduardo Magana shoved residents and began to fight with them.

The video of the shooting is at this link. https://www.facebook.com/belizeannews/videos/799864813497237/

The Commissioner of Police saw the video of the shooting and has ordered the Professional Standards Branch to investigate the criminal and disciplinary matter. This is something the police department should be reviewing. The question is how the Quick Response Team let a basic fight between two women turn into what could have been a full scale riot?

Jose A. Sanchez

Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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Commissioner of police orders investigation

The compol has been informed that four persons were injured on San Pedro following an incident occurred when patrons were leaving Daddy Rock. The compol says there was a fight between patrons and officers intervened which resulted in shots being fired by an officer. He has directed the Professional Standards Branch to fully investigate the criminal and disciplinary aspect of the incident.

The police also say "The injuries have not yet been ascertained but no one received major injury. Three got injury to the foot and one to the eye."

People on the scene allege it is one Quick Response Team (QRT) officer, Norman Coye, who was causing the harm and damage by discharging his weapon which resulted in three persons being injured.

Moments after the beating of the woman, someone throws a bottle towards officers. Then an irate group of residents complain to an officer officer who proceeds to shoot several shots on the ground near the feet of San Pedranos. He walks in a semi circle targeting the ground near the feet of residents. The ricochet of the bullets from the ground to the body is what is believed to have caused the injuries. Officer Coye shot at least 15 rounds in total. That's when he pulled a shotgun. The same officer aims a shotgun and pushes residents.

Another QRT officer engages in a brief stare down with a man in a white t-shirt following the shooting. The officer, Eduardo Magana, pushes the man from the back of his head a few feet away. The man continues to stare. The officer brandishes his weapon and exchange words with the man.

That man moves away however another man in white T-shirt gets his attention. He grabs the man and pulls him by his shirt across the street. This man also does not react or raise his hands, yet. At 1:42 in that video, officer Magana appears to hoslter his weapon then attacks the man and punches him in the head with the right hand. Of course the man reacts and fights back and citizens hold the man from fighting. Voices yell it's all abuse as the video comes to a close.

At 9 a.m. A man who was shot was taken on a Tropic Air flight to Belize City for treatment at the KHMH.

[Linked Image]

QRT Cop shoot at least 15 rounds & 3 persons injured while another provokes fight with SP residents

It seems that there was a fight between two women on the main street of San Pedro Town after 4 a.m. near the Central Park. A crowd had left Daddy Rock and happened upon the police using brute force on the fighting women on Saturday April 1st. Instead of parting the fight in a civil manner, the Quick Response Team (QRT) decided to use force against the women. A video taken moments before the shooting shows the QRT beating one of the women. Voices shouting "too effin chancey can be heard". The beating of one woman, according to several residents on the island who were at the scene, is what prompted them to confront the police officers because they could not let the incident go. View beating at this link.

https://www.facebook.com/belizeannews/videos/800071846809867/

However, people on the scene allege it is one Quick Response Team (QRT) officer, Norman Coye, who was causing the harm and damage by discharging his weapon which resulted in three persons being injured.

Photo of officers at this link

https://www.facebook.com/belizeannews/posts/799946593489059

Ten seconds into the video somone throws a bottle towards the officers. Then an irate group of residents complain to an officer officer who proceeds to shoot several shots on the ground near the feet of San Pedranos. He walks in a semi circle targetting the ground near the feet of residents. He seemed to be targetting feet. The ricochet of the bullets roun the ground to the body is what is believed to have caused the injuries. Officer Coye shot at least 15 rounds in total. That's when he pulled a shotgun.

Officer Coye aims a shotgun and pushes residents. It appears the officers incited anger rather than calm the residents who were irate over the beating of the woman and now the shooting that resulted in residents being injured.

Another QRT officer engages in a brief staredown with a man in a white t-shirt following the shooting. The officer, Eduardo Magana, pushes the man from the back of his head a few feet away. The man continues to stare. The officer brandishes his weapon and exchange words with the man.

That man moves away however another man in white T-shirt gets his attention. He grabs the man and pulls him by his shirt across the street. This man also does not react or raise his hands, yet. At 1:42 in the video the officer appears to hoslter his weapon (premeditation?) then violently attacks the man and punches him in the head with the right hand. Of course the man reacts and fights back and citizens hold the man from fighting. Voices yell "it's all abuse" as the video comes to a close.

At 9 a.m. A man who was shot was taken on a Tropic Air flight to Belize City for treatment at the KHMH.

Commissioner of police orders investigation

The compol has been informed that four persons were injured on San Pedro following an incident occurred when patrons were leaving Daddy Rock. The compol says there was a fight between patrons and officers intervened which resulted in shots being fired by an officer. He has directed the Professional Standards Branch to fully investigate the criminal and disciplinary aspect of the incident.

The police also say "The injuries have not yet been ascertained but no one received major injury. Three got injury to the foot and one to the eye."

This is not the behavior of all our officers. We must respect the uniform and we expect them to respect it too.


Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 133
R
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R
Ok, that's it for me. No more Belize.

I know, I know, it was a middle of the night drunken d�saccord between two pissed off people and a drunk cop, but the cops' response is becoming all too familiar.

And the way things have been going, and the lack of responsibility claimed by the cops, who knows where or why we might be caught up?

This isn't why I save to go on vacation .... there are better alternatives.

Bye-bye.

Last edited by RobertJ; 04/02/17 03:06 PM. Reason: addition
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,537
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RobertJ, don't you think that you exaggerate a little in your response? Don't get me wrong, this incident should have never happened, and I am sure these wrong cops get punished. But should I conclude every time when I see police abuse in the USA on the internet, that the USA is not safe and not go there anymore? I regularly see way worse (deadly) police abuse in the USA on the internet. So why punish a good society for the few that do wrong? I hope you will give it a second thought!
Short


Live and let live
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 133
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Oh, you're sure the "wrong cops" will get punished......???

Scroll back through the history on this site and you'll see just how often the "wrong cops" get punished.

Belize is a beautiful country ..... but it has a legacy of sleazy history and third-world justice.

Open your eyes to it's reality.

There are better alternatives ..... and your toady defense of the indefensible is off-putting.

If this is the environment that you want to spend your well-earned vacation time, .....have at it.


Last edited by RobertJ; 04/02/17 05:39 PM.
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,461
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K
I understand why you would not want to vacation somewhere with similar conditions you face back home, so pls do let us know where you do think is an ideal place to vacation, without the baggage of incidents like this we read about all the time on US news. Scandinavian countries are wonderful, but not sure many want to visit during US winter. What to do? Where to go? I do think you have made the right decision for yourself not to return to Belize.


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Short, please dont try to white wash this. It is a real problem for tourists and residents.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,733
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People in the tourism business in Belize would be far better served directing their efforts towards the public officials to address and correct behavior like this as opposed to attempting to suggest a person is wrong to consider vacationing somewhere other than Belize because there are other countries worse, well unless you use Seria, Afganistan and Iran as examples. To use the US as an example is sticking your head so far in the sand that you might as well speak in Chinese. I seriously doubt that the US tourism industry is as much in danger from actions by it's police as Belize is.
When you have to be as concerned about being a victim from the police as from the criminal elements, you have a problem - a Belize problem.

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 166
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well said

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