Keith Bennett, 27, of Corozal, who tried to escape from out of police custody, was recaptured after police fired warning shots into the air, over his head, causing him to halt.

While being taken to the Corozal Police Station in the pan of a police mobile, Bennett, who was wanted for armed robbery offences, jumped out of the vehicle when it stopped near the Uno Gas Station, and sprinted away.

Police quickly reacted and fired a shot in the air, and the escaping prisoner stopped in his tracks. He was then taken back to the vehicle and transported to the police station, where he was additionally charged with escape from lawful custody. The incident occurred about 3:30 Friday afternoon on 7th Street near the Uno Gas Station in Corozal.

Today, Monday, Keith Bennett was taken to the Corozal Magistrate’s Court on charges of armed robbery and escape from lawful custody, and he was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until Wednesday, June 18, his next court date.

Police said that their ongoing investigation into an armed robbery of a Chinese Store in Cristo Rey Village led to their identification of Keith Bennett as the main suspect. He was picked up and was being taken to the station when he escaped.

According to information received by Amandala, the police stopped at a pawn shop to recover some of the stolen items in connection with the robbery, when Bennett tried to escape out of the police mobile.

Bennett has a previous record of an armed robbery at another Chinese store, also in Cristo Rey, last year.