Three robbers who stole a pickup truck after beating and robbing the driver and stealing $30 from his wallet have been arrested, after one of the thieves was shot.
The three thieves, identified as Kenroy Humes, 24, who is recovering from the gunshot wound; Ervin Santos, 21; and Nigel Usher, 27, are all of Camalote. Santos and Usher were taken to the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court this morning on charges of handling stolen goods, because they were found with the stolen pickup truck.
Police said that they are conducting further investigations, after which other charges will be levied against them. Humes will be taken to court when he is released from the hospital.
Ricardo Guzman, 36, a resident of Teakettle, Cayo, reported to police that at about 10:30 Monday night, he was driving home in a white Toyota Hilux and on reaching at the junction of the Valley of Peace Road and the George Price Highway, he slowed down after observing an obstruction on the road, and while slowing down, two men who were standing by the roadside suddenly jumped into his vehicle.
One of the men pointed a gun at him and ordered him to continue driving. Fearing for his life, Guzman complied with the order.
In Teakettle, one of the robbers hit Guzman on the head and took away his wallet, which contained $30, and his personal documents. He was again ordered to drive, after which he was told to stop for a third person who was waiting on the roadside.
While driving, Guzman seized an opportunity to escape. He hit the robber who was sitting next to him and jumped out of the vehicle and ran. Guzman then alerted his boss, who alerted the Belmopan police. The Quick Response Team and the Special Patrol Unit of Belmopan Police immediately deployed to the Teakettle area and began an investigation.
Police said that the 2012 pickup truck that was stolen was equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System), which Belmopan police, using their technical expertise, were able to locate in the Teakettle area.
The Commander of Belmopan police, Superintendent Howell Gillette, told Amandala that village residents’ cooperation enabled the police to recover the vehicle.
As a result, the police went to Teakettle to recover the vehicle, which they found, with the three thieves in it. The commanding officer said that on the arrival of the police, two of the thieves surrendered, and the third man resisted arrest and was shot.
The vehicle was taken to the Belmopan Police Station, and the wounded thief was taken to the Belmopan Hospital, where he is recovering under police guard.
The items reported stolen by Guzman were found in the vehicle.
The other two men continue to be detained in the Belmopan Police Station awaiting additional charges.