United Democratic Party (UDP) City Councilor, Dean Samuels, 34, appeared in Magistrate’s Court #2 this afternoon, where he was read charges of aggravated assault with a firearm and threatening behavior. He is alleged to have threatened a former press office employee, Reese Rudon, 28, a resident of the Kings Park area, with a 9mm pistol.
Samuels, who heads the Traffic Department for the City Council, is accused of shooting several times around the feet of Rudon, who is now employed with Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL).
When Samuels appeared in court on Friday afternoon, however, Rudon said that he did not wish for court action. That declaration saved Samuels from being remanded to prison, because the magistrate cannot grant bail for the offence of aggravated assault with a firearm.
With that, the Magistrate dismissed two of the charges, which were threatening behavior and aggravated assault. The remaining charges stood. These are driving without due care and attention, driving with alcohol content above the prescribed limit, discharging a firearm in public and carrying a firearm while intoxicated.
Samuels was offered and met bail of $1,500.
Police reported that sometime around 3:00 this morning, they were called to Putt Putt Bar and Grill, located on the Newtown Barracks, where there had been reports of a shooting.
On their arrival there they spoke with Rudon, who told them he was at Putt Putt when, while trying to exit from the parking area, a dark colored Nissan Pathfinder hit his vehicle, a Mazda car. Rudon said the collision caused him to hit the vehicle that was parked in front of him.
Rudon said that he came out of his vehicle and spoke with the driver of the Pathfinder about the accident. The man would not admit his fault, but instead exited the Pathfinder with his hand under his T-shirt.
There was an exchange of words and then the man produced a handgun and fired several shots at the ground near Rudon’s feet, telling him, “You noh know who me: yu cu dead tonight,” Rudon told police.
Police said that they recovered two 9mm expended shells at the scene. The gunman was identified as Dean Samuels and he was detained, pending charges.
We do not know if Mr. Samuels’ gun license will be revoked. He was represented in court by attorney Michael Peyrefitte.