This morning in Magistrate’s Court #6, the six police constables accused of severely beating Elvin Torres, 36, an auto electrician, appeared before Magistrate Dorothy Flowers to answer charges of wounding.
Police Constable #105 Kareem Fuller, 32, attached to Patrol Branch; Constable Mark Martinez, 28; Constable Henry Nunez, 35; Constable Tyrone Baizer, 43; Constable Glenwayne Grant, 28; and Constable Fernando Franzua, 38, of Hattieville, all pleaded not guilty for intentionally and unlawfully causing harm to Torres.
They were all granted bail of $1,000 plus 1 surety and are expected to reappear in court on July 14, 2010.
The officers asked for a disclosure.
On Sunday May 9, 2010, at around 1:30 a.m., it was reported that two masked men dressed in camouflage, equipped with night vision binoculars and firearms, crept up on the checkpoint from the bushes across the road, and opened fire at the police checkpoint booth located at Mile 3 on the Western Highway.
Allegedly, during the shooting, a grey truck with license plate C-12899 came from the direction of Belize City and stopped directly in front of the police booth near the door.
It is reported that after stopping, the driver kept asking, “Where is the police?” and insisted that the policeman come out to see his identification card, and then he drove off toward the direction of Hattieville.
The police then began to chase the vehicle, which was intercepted at Hattieville by the roundabout, with its two occupants, Elvin Torres and Reginald Young.
The vehicle and occupants were searched, but nothing incriminating was found.
Fragments and apparent bullet holes were observed on the outer and inner wall of the police booth. There were five .40 caliber Aguila brand expended shells found on the roadside near the bush; one black binocular and two machetes were found in the bushes.
Subsequently, both Elvin Torres and Reginald Young were detained for questioning.
Well, that was basically the report issued by the Police Department, but what was never said in the report was that although no one was injured during the shooting, Torres was badly beaten.
Amandala spoke with Torres just before he made his way into court, and he told us that now looking back at what had occurred, he can only be thankful that he is alive. He said that on that morning, he felt like if he had met his fate.
Still suffering from trauma and recovering from the evident bruises to his face, especially to the right side of the face, he gave an account of what had transpired that morning. It is obvious that he can’t forget the many times he was stomped on the head.
Torres says he understands the frustration of the Department and is conscious of the many challenges that face the officers, but doesn’t find that a valid reason for them beating him up.
He is also thankful to the Department of Internal Affairs, and also commends David Henderson for having taken the matter seriously.
None of the six officers has confronted Torres, much less, have they asked for an opportunity to apologize.