Ronell Gonzalez arrested in Los Angeles

While cops in Cayo continue to investigate that murder, in Belize City, investigators say one of their most wanted men is tonight in the custody of law enforcement officials in California. Five days after twenty-four Ronell Gonzalez fled the country en route to Los Angeles, tonight the murder suspect is in detention pending extradition to Belize. Authorities in the United States informed local cops late Thursday evening of Gonzalez’s arrest and it is believed that he will be flown back to Belize as early as this weekend. As soon as he is handed over, Gonzalez will be charged for the brutal killing of twenty year old David Pook.

G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
?This individual, who we believe to be the main player in the murder of Mr. Pook that occurred last week, was captured in Los Angeles as a result of corporation between our Police Department and our counterparts in L.A. As you know the Belize Police Department is an active member of Interpol and we share information, we share wanted posters and whatever information we have concerning criminals that are involved in cross border crimes etc. So as a result of this they were able to pick up on that information and did a search of their area and found this individual.?

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
?Was Mister Gonzalez found at the address police suspected he might have been staying in Los Angeles?

G. Michael Reid
?At this point we are not that quite clear. We do know that he was picked up and they called us and asked us for additional information. At this point we are in the process of having him returned to Belize as quickly as possible. At that point we will be able to get all the information, because they will apparently send someone along with him.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?So you don?t know if it is over the weekend he will be extradited back to Belize??

G. Michael Reid
?No we don?t know. We are hoping that it will be sooner than later. We don?t see a problem because at this point he had just arrived so we won?t need to go through the whole extradition process. So far we are still awaiting on word from that end as to what will exactly be the case there.?

?We believe that is sends a clear to individuals who would want to want to perpetrate crimes in Belize and leave ? that you are not safe, the loose is tightening and it does not pay to commit a crime anywhere and think you will get away with it.?

Twenty-three year old Clarence Grant has already been charged with murder in the Pook case while police continue to seek Edward Henry and another suspect known only as Howard in connection with the same case. The victim was found early Monday morning in the swamp near the Bingo King apartments on Faber’s Road. He had been stabbed multiple times in the head and body.