Gallego?s relatives, however, feel that his death may have been caused at the hands of the police.
A post-mortem is scheduled for later today, said police.
It is no comfort, however, to a grieving family who two years ago lost a brother, Charles Peter Gallego, a resident of Roaring Creek, under similar circumstances. Both Charles and Ricardo died at age 44.
Police say that on Monday, Gallego was detained and charged with theft after he was found in possession of a bicycle reportedly stolen from the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) area.
He was picked up sometime around 10:00 a.m. on Monday, but he was not riding the bicycle at the time, said a close friend, Kelvin Plunkett of Ladyville.
When BATSUB and Ladyville police came, Gallego was with him, Plunkett, at his yard, and Gallego, who had the bicycle in Plunkett?s yard, showed police the bike, and they took him in.
Plunkett, who had been Gallego?s very close friend for years, said he is certain his friend did not steal the bicycle, but may have borrowed it from someone, unaware that it was a stolen bike.
Eight hours later, relatives learned of Ricardo?s death while in police custody. His sister, Teresita Thompson, with whom Amandala spoke today, said that she is questioning the way her brother died because she feels that the police conclusion about how he may have died is premature, considering the fact that no post-mortem has been done.
According to the police, Ricardo was seen at about 3:30 early Tuesday morning, eating a sandwich, but about 6:00 p.m., when police tried to wake him, they realized he was dead.
Thompson said her brother had no ?liver ailment? as the police are alleging. Although he was a known alcoholic, he was tested in August/September in 2005 by doctors at the Loma Luz Hospital in San Ignacio, Cayo, and they said he was fine.
On April 16, 2003, Gallego?s elder brother, Charles Peter Gallego, then also 44, died in his sleep. According to police, Ricardo Gallego told them that, ?At around 10:45 a.m., that day, he [Ricardo] entered his brother?s bedroom and found him lying motionless in his bed.?
Charles had bruises to the right side of the face, said the report.
A post-mortem done on Charles? body certified that he died from ?bronchial pneumonia and chronic alcoholism.?
Friends and relatives of Ricardo strongly believe that he may have been beaten by police while in custody, but according to police, his body showed no signs of bruises when he was found.
Ricardo Gallego, originally from Roaring Creek, was the first tire repairman in the Ladyville area, working for the past 12-15 years. He had closed down his business some years prior to his brother?s death in 2003, and in November 2005, moved back to Ladyville, where he re-opened his tire business.
Sadly for his grieving family, Ricardo passed away on the day of his two grand-nephews? birthdays; one turned 8, the other 17.
Ricardo was never married, but had 3 children – 2 daughters and one son – all living in the United States. He is predeceased by his mother; Phillipa Hill; father, Peter Gallego; and is survived by his children, four sisters and four brothers.