Mentally Challenged child claims sodomy

Reports reached us that there was a brutal crime allegedly committed against a minor of San Pedro. The victim, a mentally challenged child, whose identity will be withheld, informed his foster mother that he was sodomized by a taxi driver. The incident allegedly occurred on Christmas Day in the DFC Area of San Pedro Town.

In his report, the 14 year old boy, a resident of the San Mateo Area, stated that sometime around 6:00 pm on December 25th, he was offered a ride by a taxi driver. The taxi driver reportedly took the young man to a home in the DFC area located on the southern end of San Pedro Town, where, with the use of a condom, he was sodomized.

A source within the San Pedro Police Department informed us that the incident was reported on December 26th. Due to the child’s mental condition, he was unable to clearly identify the house in which the crime occurred, but has managed to take officials in the general area of the incident. Sources further confirmed that since the report, an arrest was made; however the man has been released while the investigation continues.

The child had three large hickeys to the neck area and a laceration on his buttocks. The child was taken to a medical practitioner on the island who conducted a physical examination. According to the results of the physical examination, the doctor was unable to verify whether the child was indeed sodomized.

According to sources from within the police department; while they are working hard on the report, they are faced with several issues. Due to the mental wellbeing of the child, he has been inconsistent with key information that is essential in their investigation of the case. While the police continue their investigation, they are asking anyone who may have seen anything that could assist in this investigation to please come forward and offer your assistance. The San Pedro Police Department may be reached at 226-2022.

SPPD increases patrol for the christmas holidays

The Christmas holidays are upon us and generally with all the celebrations on the island, there is an influx of tourists, visitors and criminals as well. This time of the year also brings an increase in the sales of Alcoholic beverages, and, of course, more drunken people on our streets and beaches. With this in mind, the San Pedro Police has decided to embark on an Anti-Crime Christmas Campaign.

According to the Officer in Charge of Duties and Discipline at the San Pedro Police Department, Sergeant Basil Reyes, this campaign commenced on November 15th, 2010 and is scheduled to run through January 15th, 2011. The campaign seeks to address the Christmas anti-crime situation, by employing additional police personnel to cover the business area and provide a heighten security for residents in the area.

This will be achieved through assistance from the special constable program, as well as additional personnel coming from other branches to assist. A major area of concern is the burglary prevention patrol in the night time. The police have embarked on additional foot patrol, mobile patrol on land and sea, stop and searches of individuals gathering on street corners as well as conducting house searches among others.

Word of advice for individuals leaving the island to travel, “ensure that you leave some type of information with someone that you will be away, find someone to look after your property and provide them with contact information of yourself as well as of the police in the event it would become necessary. The San Pedro Police Department will continue the efforts to control the various situations that may arise during the Christmas celebrations such as drunk driving and so forth, through high visibility patrol and ensuring that personnel be available to respond to citizen’s concerns and enforce the law.

The San Pedro Police Department invites the general public to do their part by reporting suspicious activities in your area to the Police by dialing 911 or 226-2022. With this said, Sergeant Basil Reyes, on behalf of the San Pedro Police Department wishes the residents of Ambergris Caye as well as visitors a safe and Merry Christmas and reminds “the police is here to serve the community”.

Fire at Micky's Place Restaurant

At approximately 2:40 Sunday afternoon San Pedro police received a call from neighbors of Micky's Place reporting flames and smoke coming from the establishment. The restaurant, located on the south end of Pescador Drive in downtown San Pedro, was closed and the owner was across the street at another business at the time of the fire.
The police contacted the SP Fire Department and with their quick response and assistance from neighbors the fire was contained and extinguished in quick time. According to the restaurant owner it is believed that the fire was caused by a deep-fat fryer that had been left on.
Further information regarding damages, along with photos, will be posted on Monday. There were no injuries reported at this time.

One dead in early Sunday shooting

UPDATE:

Francis Alexander Figerroa Cardenas

The San Pedro Police have reason to believe that the gunshot victim - now identified as Francis Alexander Figerroa Cardenas (he was previously using an alias: Bejan Wade)- was beaten at a different location, and then was apparently driven home in a golf cart where he was dropped off in front of his house. He was then shot in the head at least once, although there were multiple shots heard. Quick work by the Police has located the golf cart that is believed was used to transport the victim. Anyone with further information is asked to please contact the San Pedro Police Station (226-2022). Police are looking for two suspects.

At around 6:00am, The San Pedro Sun received a call that a young man lay dying on the street in the San Juan area as a result of a shooting.

He was still alive when daylight broke, and Police scrambled to locate a doctor and nurse, then transported him to the San Pedro Poly Clinic II, where he was officially pronounced dead at 7:15am.

Police have not released the name of the victim, as family has not been notified. However, according to witnesses at the scene of the crime, it is believed that the shooting was the end result of a fight that escalated to yet another senseless murder.

A 9mm shell was found at the scene of the crime.

The bullet mark on the concrete fence where the victim was shot...

Lionel Pinelo Fatally Stabbed in Bar Fight

At approximately 1AM on Saturday morning reports are that during a bar altercation at Los Compadres Bar located in the Boca del Rio area Lionel Pinelo was fatally stabbed. Two persons have been detained as suspects by the San Pedro Police Department but no charges have been made at this time. Pinelo, who was emergency evacuated to Belize City, succumbed to his injuries en route to the hospital.

Assistance Required!!

Very Important!!!

Assistant Superintendent Arnold, head of San Pedro Police has requested all photographs taken at the SAGA Halloween event be collected.

PLEASE send all photographs to ariadnetrejo@yahoo.com so that they may be collated and handed over to the police.

This is very important! Thank you. Please share this.

Police press conference to be held at 2:00 p.m.

Corporal Gavin Sanchez

The body of deceased Corporal Gavin Sanchez has been removed from the Police Department's compound and placed on a boat. The body is being transported to Belize City where a post mortem examination will be conducted.

Police officials will be having a press conference at the San Pedro Police Department today at 2:00 p.m.

Breaking News: Police Officer shoots one of his own

Sometime after 3 am gun shots broke the still of night. Neighbors claim to have heard up to eight shots and as dawn broke in San Pedro Town reports pouring into our offices state that police corporal Gavin Sanchez, detached to the San Pedro Police Department had lost his life after being fatally wounded by one of his own.

Witnesses report to have seen Corporal Sanchez frequenting one of the local island bars until late at night. Sergeant Paulino Reyes, also of the San Pedro Police Department arrived at the bar’s beachfront location where he met up with Corporal Sanchez. Witnesses claim that Sergeant Reyes was accompanied by two Belize Defense Force soldiers. It is unknown and there are many speculations as to what might have transpired but Corporal Sanchez reportedly intoxicated was transported to the Police Department where he was relieved of his firearm.

Sergeant Paulino Reyes

Reports from officials close to the investigation reveal that the incident unfolded at the police barracks behind the police department. Corporal Sanchez allegedly aggressed Sergeant Reyes who realizing that the corporal was armed opened fire.

Corporal Sanchez, after being shot, fell where he stood in the hallway inside the barracks. Director of the San Pedro Polyclinic Dr. Javier Zuniga pronounced him dead at 3:30 a.m. with the fatal bullet wound being inflicted to Sanchez’s forehead. Police officials have remained tightlipped about the incident but a press conference will be held this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. on the island.

Police investigate death of San Pedro resident

San Pedro Police continue their investigation in the death of a San Pedro resident. Sometime around 4:20 PM Police visited the western end of Jewfish Street next to the lagoon where they found a Hispanic man, later identified as 64 year old Juan Guemez, floating in the water.

According to Police, the body of Guemez was found by a local resident who was checking on his boat following a heavy rain. The cause of death is unknown at this time and Police continue their investigation. The San Pedro Sun will have more details in the next week's issue.

Shooting on Swan Street grazes two

Two men narrowly escaped more serious injury after they were grazed by bullets following a shooting incident on the island last night. The two people are 18 year old Clifford Galvez and 25 year old Armando Ordez, both of a Swan Street address in San Pedro Town. According to the police, sometime around 9:35 last night, they received information of a shooting incident by "Back-a-town" in the Airstrip Area.

When police arrived at the scene they saw two people suffering from what appeared to be bullet grazes; Galvez was grazed in the upper back and Ordez to his upper left arm. Galvez and Ordez told police that they, with two other persons were sitting on the stairs of the home opposite Stone’s Apartments. While sitting, they noticed a man on a bicycle, described only as being slim and dark skinned, coming from the direction of San Pedrito down Tropical Wave Street. When the man came closer, he pulled out what appeared to be a firearm from around his waist and fired five live rounds towards the four men’s direction. He then made good his escape. As a result of the shooting, both Galvez and Ordez were grazed.

One of the bullets hit the windshield of a golf cart parked on the same street.

Police do not have a clear motive as yet but they strongly suspect that the shooting is in retaliation from an old argument (beef). Police have detained one man for questioning while their investigation continues.