BELIZE CITY, Tues. Dec. 17, 2019– A twenty-two-year-old police constable whose picture was put on a police wanted poster for the offense of theft was taken to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court this morning to be arraigned.
Nadir Ryan Mendoza appeared before Magistrate Khadeen Palmer, who arraigned him on the theft charge.
Mendoza pleaded not guilty to the charge, and since the court prosecutor did not object to the granting of bail to Mendoza, he was released on bail of $5.000 plus one surety in the same amount.
One condition of the bail is that PC Mendoza is to report to the San Ignacio Police Station and he is not to interfere with any prosecution witness in the matter.
Mendoza is to return to court on February 18, 2020.
Police issued their wanted poster for PC Mendoza on Thursday, December 12.
On Friday, December 13, Commissioner of Police Chester Williams had been questioned about the PC Mendoza matter, and he disclosed the circumstances that led to the Police Department’s allegation of theft against the officer.
Commissioner Williams had said, “Three firearms were signed out by a police officer, Nadir Mendoza, over a period of time, and upon inspection of the firearm register, it shows that the officer didn’t bring the firearms back in.
“So, I have since directed that a criminal investigation be conducted, as well as an internal investigation. Since the discovery of this incident, the officer has ceased coming to work and so I have also directed that they put out a wanted poster for him. We have notified the borders, and we are looking for him within the country, and as soon as he is found, he will need to give account for those firearms, and if he fails to do so, then he will be charged criminally for theft where those firearms are concerned.”
Commissioner Williams was asked if the officer had been detained at any time, then released.
“I was told that yes, he may have been detained about a week or so ago, but he didn’t get away; he was subsequently released by the investigators,” Commissioner Williams replied.
“Was there some sort of failure in the protocols in terms of the handling of firearms there at the police station?” the Commissioner was asked.
Commissioner Williams explained, “Well, most naturally, we have to look at that because then the executive duty officers who run the relief at Precinct Three have a responsibility to ensure that when they hand over or take over, that they hand over what they have taken over and ensure that what they take over is exactly what is being handed over to them.
“So, there is some breakdown in terms of the protocols where the handing over and taking over process is concerned and that is being looked at internally by Professional Standards Branch.”
The Commissioner was asked if the officer had disciplinary issues before.
“Yes, he was involved in a situation in the San Ignacio area and he was charged, I think criminally. I believe, if I can recall correctly, that the virtual complainant might have withdrawn the matter, and with that, he was allowed to come back.
“He was also tried internally and was convicted, I believe, and the adjudicator didn’t recommend his dismissal and that was an unfortunate situation, and because of that, he was allowed back to actual active police duties, Commissioner Williams disclosed.