This morning, at 11:00, a press conference was held at the Racoon Street Police Station to inform the media about the recent shootings, a robbery and a murder as recent as this morning. On the panel were Inspector Allen Whylie, Clemente Cacho, Edward Broaster, and Sergeant Glen Rivero, Officer Commanding Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB).
Whylie began by saying that last night, once again, a police mobile patrol came under fire by a youth. That youth was along with another young man, but only he fired at the police mobile. As a matter of fact, he did not fire at only one, but two mobile patrols within minutes of each other.
Police said that sometime around 10:00 last night, a mobile patrol was in the area of Yabra Bridge, near Neal Pen Road, when they saw two young men riding separate bicycles, acting suspiciously. The motioned to the men to stop, but they just looked back and continued riding, said Whylie.
The mobile patrol decided to pursue the individuals, at which time, it is reported, one of them pulled out a firearm and fired two shots at the vehicle. The men then rode up Waight Street, added Whylie, at which time, a mobile unit that was responding to the sound of the shots came face to face with the youths. The youth with the gun again fired two shots at this mobile patrol, continued Whylie, and continued on his way, but was eventually caught by another, a third mobile patrol, after he had been shot when police returned fire.
The youth was shot in the right side of the body, and in the back. He has since been identified as Wilfred Dickson, of a Racoon Street Extension address.
Whylie was asked how great the concern was to policemen, noting the fact that in October, Brandon Taylor had fired at them, and just after, Kyle Murillo, allegedly fired several times at a mobile patrol. These incidents were just before a policeman at the Mile 4, Western Highway checkpoint was shot and an officer, stationed at the House of Culture, was held up and robbed of his gun.
Even though only one of those shootings had a fatality, and only one injury was recorded, Whylie said that the police are greatly concerned. This, however, will not deter them from doing their job, he said. Moreover, he has cautioned his men about the fact that they need to take extra precautionary measures when dealing with a situation. They should try to call in as soon as possible and ensure that they request “back-up.”
It was reported that a police officer, David Griffith, had a gun pointed in his face as he tried to conduct a routine search of a vehicle, and Whylie confirmed this. He said that the incident occurred while Griffith was on foot patrol in the Pine Street area, on a street located just behind Central American Boulevard (behind Malic’s Supermarket).
Griffith saw a black Cadillac parked, bearing a California license plate. He told the driver that he would like to conduct a search of the vehicle. That was when the man, who is of brown complexion, pulled out a .38 revolver and pointed it in the policeman’s face, and said something to the effect that he loved to kill policemen.
The man then started his car and sped off.
That person and the black Cadillac are being sought, said Whylie.
Next, Whylie mentioned that four prisoners had escaped during a series of blackouts that occurred at the Hattieville Prison on Sunday, October 14, between the hours of 12 midnight and 3:00 a.m.
At this time, it is not known whether the blackouts were intentional, or because of some electrical fault, but that is being looked at by Belize Electricity Limited and prison officials, added Whylie. What is known is that the four men who escaped, Albert Cal, serving 25 years for murder and other charges; Gilbert Requeña, serving 18 years for manslaughter; Kirk Bainton, serving 11 years for burglary and other charges; and Rupert Mangar, serving 4 years for burglary; shared a cell in the Multimax area of the prison. They apparently managed to get a hacksaw, and cut two of the iron bars in their cells and escaped.
What part of the compound they exited from is not known, either.
Cacho said that sometime between closing hours on Saturday afternoon and opening hours this morning, there was an attempted robbery at the Provident Bank, located on Albert Street. At this point, nothing has been reported stolen, said Cacho. The thief/ves tried to get into the vault by prying a small hole in the vault area, but could not get in.
The panel was asked about some files being sent to Belize police by Mexican forensic experts, and Whylie confirmed that he has received those files. He said that the files are related to two murder cases and a damage-to-property case.
Whylie was asked about the case of Kyle Murillo, who had recently been charged with two counts of aggravated assault after he fired at police mobile, noting that neighbors claimed he had a pint bottle and not a gun. Whylie replied saying that his officers know what they saw and added that some people don’t like the police and would tend to say anything to their detriment. A body found this morning near the entrance of Vista Del Mar in a drain on the right hand side going in, was mentioned.
No additional information could be given on the police officer, Lincoln Lewis, who is presently detained in an investigation in the shooting of his own brother, Aston Lewis.
It was also noted by acting police press officer Bart Jones that the officer commanding Ladyville Police Station, Calbert Flowers, has served Wayne Grinage, 24, with a notice of intended prosecution in regard to a traffic accident that claimed the life of Ervin Milligan, 38, on October 6, 2007.
In that accident Grinage had claimed that his cousin Milligan was driving, but investigations show otherwise, added Jones.