Viral Video: Police Officer Assaults Man in San Pedro

Communications Director for the Belize Police Department, ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, gave brief comments this morning on a video that went viral over the weekend. It captured a uniformed police officer on San Pedro assaulting a man. According to Yearwood, while a formal report has not been made by the victim, he did see the video and claims that it is being dealt with.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“Like I always say to you, we need a virtual complainant for me to have an official report. Yes I was privy to see the video, but we would want to encourage the victim to come and visit the professional standard branch and make a formal complaint and then I will be able to further comment on that.”

Reporter

“Is it damning to see that this police officer just walked up to the gentleman and proceed to punch him?”

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood

“That is more than damning and we at the department don’t just turn a blind eye to that type of behaviour, but it would be even better if we have an actual complainant. I am not saying that we would not sanction that officer, but we would want better result for that person that suffered that form of abuse publicly, especially caught on camera. And we want to explain to the public that we do not tolerate abuse by police officers. I know that you have seen in the past where police have been charged, have been dealt with, some have been dismissed for that kind of behaviour. Like I said, we will not ignore the fact; we have contacted the officer commanding already and we will deal with that officer internally.”