Another Dead Prisoner at Queen Street Police Station

Another dead prisoner is being recorded from inside the walls of the Queen Street Police Station and the Police Department is conducting an investigation into what happened. Police confirmed today that Jose Espinosa hung himself with a shoelace inside a prison cell within two hours of being detained for common assault. But there seems to have been a breach in protocol because it is standard procedure that belts and shoelaces are removed from a detainee when taken into custody. Deputy Head of the National Crimes Investigation Branch, Senior Superintendent Hilberto Romero explains.

Hilberto Romero

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero, Deputy Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“At 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday, the twenty-seventh day of November, 2019, police made checks in a cell at the cellblock at the Queen Street Police Station where they found the motionless body of Jose Espinosa, thirty-nine years labourer of North Front Street, Belize City, who was found hanging from a shoelace from one of the cell bars inside the cellblock. He was taken down and escorted to the K.H.M.H. where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He was detained at the cell block from around 2:30 p.m., yesterday’s date for common assault. We have since commenced an investigation into this matter and a post-mortem will be conducted on the body to determine the cause of death.”

Duane Moody

“Is it not a policy of the department whenever a person is taken into custody or is going to be detained that that individual they remove belt and shoelaces from those who will be in police’s custody? What went wrong in this instance?”

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Yes that is a policy that is in place and the investigation will determine what transpired and how this person had this shoelace.”

Duane Moody

“Sir do you foresee disciplinary actions being taken on those who are responsible…?”

Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Yes, if the investigation reveals some neglect by anyone that will be dealt with.”