O.C. of Corozal Says Officers Felt Threatened

Dennis Arnold

Corozal cops are in hot water after Garcia’s death, but they say it’s not that simple. Today, Senior Superintendent Dennis Arnold said police had previously responded to several incidents involving Garcia, and this time officers were told to go prepared because the Chunox handyman was considered “armed and dangerous.”  While the incident is being investigated, Arnold told us that from his officers’ account, they were in consistent and grave danger and had no choice but to open fire.

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold, O.C., Corozal Police

“Between March and present, we have about three or four different reports indicating that Mr. Garcia threatened people with a machete once they enter that premises; he even sent messages to police that once the police go there, he will chop them. I sent officers on Friday. I told them that Mr. Garcia is armed and dangerous and they must go prepared. They went – apparently Mr. Garcia was over at the neighbors’ house again. He saw when the police went there – when the police left, he got a machete from the neighbours and he went home. The police had circled the village; before the police left, they went back to check to see if he was at home; when the officers got to his house, apparently he was waiting; when the officer knocked at the door, he opened and came out with the machete swinging – apparently he wanted to chop the officers. The officer backed up then the officer fell to the ground. Apparently, Mr. Garcia wanted to chop the officer in the head.  From the time the officer fell on the ground, yes, apparently Mr. Garcia’s intention was to chop the officer in the head; because if he wanted to chop the officer he could have chopped the officer in the foot but he didn’t want the foot, he wanted the head.”

Reporter

“From the observations of the officers it was clear that this man wanted to cause harm to them?”

Sr. Supt. Dennis Arnold

“Certainly.  Certainly.”