Former prison chief foils armed robbery
Two armed robbers received a shock on Monday evening when the man they attacked fought back. That should not be any surprise to people who know the victim. He’s Bernard Adolphus, former Superintendent of Prisons and current owner of Big Bird Security. The drama unfolded around four just outside of Belize Unit Trust on Central American Boulevard. Today, the fifty-eight year old Adolphus explained how he kept his cool in the face of deadly force.
Bernard Adolphus, Fights off Armed Attackers
“I do courier services for Unit Trust and at 3:50 yesterday afternoon on receipt of the day’s collection, I moved from out the entrance of the door and was about to approach my vehicle when two Belizean black youths approached me. One pass me and then do a quick about turn and the other pointed a Uzi in my face. I realised that I was in trouble when I saw the weapon, but the mistake the guy made was when he cocked the weapon. I heard just metal to metal and I realised that there was no round inside the chamber. And because of that, I became aggressive and I started to protect the day’s collection.”
“I boxed the weapon out of my face and while doing that, the other one attacked and from the rear and moved the bag I had with the day’s deposit and it scattered on the floor. I was trying to kick the money under the vehicle, but subsequently in the problem that we had there, he got one parcel, one package out and both of them ran.”
“But I thank God for my experience, military and otherwise because I think they tried to scare me with their actions. But it was not, in my way of thinking, it was not convincing to me alright. Of course I wouldn’t dare people to do what I did, but because I felt comfortable with how I felt yesterday and the fact that I was sure that there were no rounds, they had no knife, no stick, I said okay I can take care of those two.”
“I am not afraid because I understand nowadays intimidation of witnesses. They have a tendency to intimidate witnesses. Well, I will not stand down. If I am required to go to court, which I know I will go, I will go to court and that’s it because justice has to be served. We cannot allow things like this to happen.”
The two robbers managed to take only one bag containing an undisclosed number of cheques. Quick police action not only led authorities to the suspected getaway vehicle–a black Mazda car–but to one of the stolen cheques. The police have since arrested twenty-one year old Herman Elijio of Mayflower Street. Elijio has been charged with robbery, while authorities are seeking the other suspect.
