Prison escapee recaptured in Belize City
Terry Bainton
Keme is not the only prisoner on the run; three of five inmates who escaped from the Belize Central Prison remain the targets of a manhunt. We reported on Tuesday that Jose-Luis Cocom, an escaped inmate was recaptured. Well tonight he is joined by another escapee, thirty year old Terry Bainton, a Ladyville resident. Bainton was first spotted near the fire station at around seven-thirty this morning. Police set chase and caught him at the home of Keon Jones on Zericote Street and by eight-thirty he was back in a prison cell. Police surrounded Jones’ home, ordered Bainton to come out and he complied immediately. He was searched but no weapons or illegal items were found on him. Bainton allegedly told police that Cocom and another prisoner, Jose Melgar cut the locks on their cell and then released him, Dennis Quilter and Juan Melendez. They overpowered the guard on duty and fled. While they climbed over the fence, Bainton allegedly reports that a prison guard noticed and fired shots at them but missed. We caught up with Kolbe Chief Executive Officer, Mel Auil for an update on the prison break.
Mel Auil, Chief Executive Officer, Kolbe Foundation
“A group of our prison officers were actually in the Louisiana area of Orange Walk and we actually caught him in the living room of his sisters’ home sitting down and we surprised him. So we took him into custody and we immediately brought him back to the Belize Central Prison.”
Delahnie Bain
“Will he be facing additional charges now?”
Mel Auil
mel auil
“Charges for escape, yes.”
Delahnie Bain
“Did he put up a struggle or anything?”
Mel Auil
“We caught him by surprise and officers when they are on manhunt, they are armed so there was no resistance.”
Delahnie Bain
“I believe yesterday or this morning, another one was caught.”
Mel Auil
“This morning Terry Bainton was caught in Belize City by police officers. The exact details and time I am unaware of at this time but I know he is already back at the Belize Central Prison from about eight-thirty this morning they brought him back in. We have Dennis Quilter, he is from the Ladyville area so he may be somewhere between Belize City and the Ladyville area. The last time—he is a previous escapee as well—he was recaptured in Houston. We also have Juan Melendez and Jose Melgar. Those are the three who are outstanding.”
Delahnie Bain
“I know after the meeting you had several meetings and so on. Any changes with security or anything?”
Mel Auil
“Well, we always look at where the weakness is and we’ve already tightened up on those weak areas.”
Cocom’s sister is expected to be charged for Harboring a Criminal. This was Bainton’s second escape in less than a year; the first was on September twenty-seventh 2009. But that was short lived because he was recaptured the following day and was later sentenced to additional year behind bars for Escape. A release from the Kolbe Foundation warns that Melendez may be heading north while Melgar is believed to be travelling west.
