Police Shoots Elderly Man During Struggle
Dwayne Sutherland
Why would police shoot an elderly man? That’s the question that the media tried to get answers to today. Sixty-seven-year-old Lionel Llewellyn Arnold Senior is in a stable condition at the K.H.M.H. Arnold Senior was shot once by a Belize City police officer on Friday night on Lakeview Street. According to the Officer Commanding Professional Standards Branch, Senior Superintendant of Police, Dwayne Sutherland, the shooting resulted from a struggle. Sutherland reported today that the police’s account is that they were on patrol when they stopped to search Lionel Arnold Junior, and it was during that search that his father, Arnold Senior, got involved. Police say that during the struggle, a shot was fired, and Arnold Senior was shot. Sutherland says that the investigation is still early at this age, but if evidence proves that the officers used excessive force, then charges will be levied.
Sr. Supt. Dwayne Sutherland, O.C., Professional Standards Branch
“The police attention was drawn to two persons. As a result the police exited their vehicles, came out and conducted a search. During the processes of the search, a struggle ensued between the gentleman that they were searching who was learned to be Lionel Arnold Junior. Eventually his father who is Arnold Senior came and he also intervened. During the struggle a single shot was fired by one of the officers which injured Mister Lionel Arnold Senior in the right thigh. He was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital for treatment.”
Reporter
“By any chance do you have any information as to how serious that injury is?”
Sr. Supt. Dwayne Sutherland
“As far as I am concerned he is in a stable condition. This investigation is in its preliminary stage so what I can tell you is that when the investigation is concluded, if it is that there is evidence to charge the officer he will be held accountable.”
Reporter
“One of the biggest questions those of us who weren’t there and have received the information is looking on and asking why is it that an officer of a paramilitary unit would draw his weapon and shoot the gentlemen who is in his sixties.”
Sr. Supt. Dwayne Sutherland
“Well like what I said. There was a struggle. We are still investigation the matter. We have yet to get a formal statement from both Mister Lionel Arnold junior and senior and at the end of the conclusion of our investigation we will then decide how we will proceed with the matter based on the evidence that we get.”
Reporter
“What were the officers looking for when they decided to search?”
Sr. Supt. Dwayne Sutherland
“At this point in time I won’t go into detail with that but the officers exited their vehicle and were to conduct a search on this male individual.”
