Police Officer Detained for Hit & Run in Orange Walk District

Fitzroy Yearwood

Over the extended weekend, twenty-year-old Gerson Cardova was knocked down in San Lazaro Village in a hit-and-run incident involving a police officer who was fleeing from a traffic checkpoint in Orange Walk District.  The officer who is being placed on interdiction, is believed to have committed a traffic offense prior to knocking down Cardova.  Assistant Superintendent of Police Fitzroy Yearwood provides additional details on the incident.

ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Communications Director, Belize Police Department

“He was detained from his home in San Lazaro Village a few minutes after doing so.  The investigators also found out that he ran a checkpoint that was set up by transport officers prior to knocking one Gerson Cardova off a motorbike, while trying to escape, whilst escaping from the traffic checkpoint.  Police then went to his home where they detained him.  They took the vehicle that he was using into the station to be processed, of course, and as it is he will be arraigned this morning in the Orange Walk Magistrate’s Court.  But I know that the letter for his interdiction is being processed as we speak. I know that he didn’t give a blood and urine sample and he will be charged for that also, but I know that he was not cooperating at the time.  But we managed to detain him.  I said San Lazaro Village, but it’s August Pine Ridge where he lives.  The accident happened in San Lazaro Village where he knocked twenty-year-old Gerson Cardova off a motorbike.  Mr. Cardova is still receiving treatment, his condition has not been upgraded from stable.  It’s still stable, I must say.  But we know that medical officers said that they will keep him for observation.”