Deportee Slashed in Orange Walk

Luis Campos

The extended holiday weekend was marred by violence up north, in the city and in the west. We start in Orange Walk Town, where a recent deportee was murdered and police have a duo in custody in connection with this homicide. In the early hours of Sunday morning, Orange Walk Police received a call from the precinct in San Pedro that a body had been left at a stable located on Chapel Street in that northern municipality. Police then found the body of Luis Campos and transported it to the Northern Regional Hospital where it awaits a post-mortem. News Five’s Andrea Polanco went north to get the latest on this homicide.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

On Sunday, twenty-six year old Luis Ricardo Campos was found dead in this yellow shack at the Waldy Cuello Stables in Orange Walk Town. He had been stabbed multiple times.

Supt. Dennis Arnold, O.C., Orange Walk Police

“Sunday the eight day of March 2015, at about some minutes to three a.m, San Pedro Police called with some information that someone supposedly is at the Cuello Stable supposedly dead. Police visited that area at the time and didn’t found anything. At about seven a.m that same morning, we got another call that the body was there so police went to the area and saw a male Hispanic person wrapped in sheet with what appears to be stab wounds to the body and face.”

Dennis Arnold

Andrea Polanco

“Superintendent, was he found outside of the stable or inside one of the buildings that’s there?”

Supt. Dennis Arnold

“He was found inside one of the buildings adjacent to the stables.”

Andrea Polanco

“Police know if someone has been living in that particular building near the stable?”

Supt. Dennis Arnold

“Well, not for sure. But the matter is still under investigation but what we know is that he usually stays there. He and others usually stay there.”

Campos, a recent deportee from the United States, was no stranger to Orange Walk Police. The men believed to be involved in his murder are expected to be charged soon.

Supt. Dennis Arnold

“Police initial investigations reveal that they were at a birthday party. I am not sure if Mr Luis Campos was there, but three other persons who were at the stable were at the birthday party. From the party they left and went to the stable there.”

Andrea Polanco

“Have Police been able to determine what caused Mr Campos’ murder? Was there an argument or alcohol involved that led to his death?”

Supt. Dennis Arnold

“At this time, we really don’t want to speculate but our investigation at this time revealed nothing of such. The guys just went there and did what they had to do.”

Andrea Polanco

“You mentioned three other persons; are these men in police custody at this time? What’s the status with them?”

Supt. Dennis Arnold

“Okay. Presently we have two of them in custody and the other is a minor. His mother brought him and we had interviewed him. The two main persons are in custody.”

Andrea Polanco

“Do you expect any charges to be levied any time soon, or is the investigation too early to tell?”

Supt. Dennis Arnold

“I am sure before the forty-eight hours is up; we are definitely going to lay charges.”

Andrea Polanco

“Now, from what we understand, Mr Campos is a recent deportee from the U.S. Do you know if he had any run-ins with the law here in Orange Walk?”

Supt. Dennis Arnold

“Yes, he had, because, if I can recall, he was charged for handling stolen goods and possession of control drugs.”

Police say that nothing suggests Campos had a prior problem with the men who are in custody for his murder. Reporting for News Five, I am Andrea Polanco.

At the top of the interview, Superintendent Arnold said that they received the information via San Pedro. He informed us that the Orange Walk Police received the call from San Pedro because of what may perhaps be a procedural issue with the 911 number. He said that every time a Digicell number dials 911 to report something in Orange Walk, the call is directed to San Pedro. San Pedro would then forward the call to Orange Walk with the information. He pointed out that this doesn’t happen when a Smart number is used.