Belize City Youth Claims Police Brutality
Karim Barona
A Belize City teenager also felt the wrath of the police at the beginning of the week. In this case, Karim Barona left his girlfriend’s house after five in the morning. Admittedly, he was not wearing a mask and Barona was taken to the police station where his nightmare began. Hipolito Novelo files the following report.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
Eighteen year old Karim Barona says that Belize City police officers unfairly arrested him on Monday morning. He says that he was mistreated and verbally abused by officers including this one:
[Excerpt of Cell Phone Video]
Barona was picked up after five o’clock on Monday morning. He was on New Road, leaving his girlfriend’s home, en route home when he was stopped and searched. His reason to be out on the streets was not reasonable for the arresting officers. He was also arrested for not having a face mask on.
Karim Barona, Charged for S.O.E. Violations
“He asked me for a search. He asked me what I was doing out there. I told him that I just came from my girl’s home. I was looking to go home and bathe. I had my shirt on my left shoulder. He told me that is not a good reason to be outside in curfew hours.”
Hipolito Novelo
“What did you tell him?”
Karim Barona
“I told them that I just came from my girl’s house. I need to go bathe.”
Hipolito Novelo
“So you were arrested?”
Karim Barona
“Arrested and charge for curfew and a mask. Whe I told them that I got short of breath, I can’t wear no mask so.”
Hipolito Novelo
“And you were leaving your girl’s house to go wear?”
Karim Barona
“To come home to go bathe upstairs.”
Hipolito Novelo
“You believe that is a valid reason to be outside?”
Karim Barona
“Yes that is a valid reason. I gave them that with due respect. It is a valid reason.”
Hipolito Novelo
“What about the mask?”
Karim Barona
“I can’t wear any mask. I have short of breath.”
Barona was taken to Precinct Three Police station where he was charged for failure to wear a face mask and failure to provide a reasonable explanation to be out during non-curfew hours.
Karim Barona
“That is the inspector. That is when I reached inside. The sergeant told me at the back of the pickup that he does not care. If I make him lose his job he will deal with me and when I am in the streets I am for him and he will shot me in the face. For what? I don’t know. When I reached at the station in front of the inspector I was still videoing him. But the sergeant he was playing as though he was the ‘baddest’ thing.”
Hipolito Novelo
“You were upset that you were arrested.”
Karim Barona
“I was upset yes, more than upset.”
Hipolito Novelo
“And it showed because you were less than calm when speaking to the officers. Do you believe that because of the way you were speaking them that is why they reacted to you that way.”
Karim Barona
“I would guess so.”
Barona has filed a report against the officers to the Professional Standards Branch. He wants the officers to be penalized.
Karim Barona
“Four police came to the back. They asked for the key. He asked for the key and he told me to shut up. I don’t want to calm down. I told them that I am not calming down because you already chanced me, why would I calm down for? He told me to sit down. I told him that he is not my father. You can’t put me to sit down. A next buff one came and he dash me straight down on the bench. When they dash me down, I feel like my spinal cord broke or get fractured or something. The men started to punch me in my jaw. He actually took his finger nail and scratched me in my face. This man scratched me in my face for no reason. I never went through any problem with them yet. I just upset. And the next big one and he took his knee and knee me in my stomach for no reason. I am no criminal. “
Hipolito Novelo
“Do you believe that you used excessive force on you?”
Karim Barona
“More than excessive force on me.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
