Cop Beaten & Left for Dead

Stories of police brutality are mainstays in our newscast, but tonight, the report is that a police officer is on the receiving end. The constable Jason Hall attached to precinct three of the Belize City Police Department was attacked as he was heading in uniform to Belize City to report to work. Hall experienced vehicular problems on the highway and someone who pretended to be a Good Samaritan would stop to render assistance but later bludgeoned the exemplary cop and stole his Mazda car. The incident occurred during broad daylight on Monday near Rhaburn Ridge on the Phillip Goldson Highway.  Duane Moody reports on this attack on an officer of the law.

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood, Relief Commander, Precinct 3, Belize City Police

“Jason Hall is one of my most reliable workers. Never late, never absent and he does not believe in reporting sick. Unfortunately yesterday morning, he was traveling to work—because he resides in the northern district of Corozal—in his personal car when his vehicle ended up with two blowouts. He stopped to repair his vehicle and unfortunately an attempt was made on his life.”

Duane Moody, Reporting

Thirty-six year old Police Constable number 1476 Jason Hall is tonight inside the Intensive Care Unit of the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was hit multiple times to the head with a blunt object and left for dead near Rhaburn Ridge at miles thirty-seven on the Phillip Goldson Highway. The officer was traveling to Belize City from his house in Corozal when he experienced a blowout and he stopped to fix the vehicle. Hours later he would be discovered unconscious and rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital; his vehicle was missing. The officer had been assaulted and robbed.

Hilberto Romero

Supt. Hilberto Romero, O.C., CIB, Belize City Police

“We had an incident yesterday in the general area of Rhaburn Ridge on the Phillip Goldson Highway where Police Constable Jason Hall received a blowout on his vehicle; he got assistance to repair and get the vehicle going. At some point, the said person that assisted him inflicted an injury to the side of his face after which he stole the vehicle and made his way to Orange Walk. The constable regained consciousness thereafter and he asked for assistance. The police came and he was taken to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he remains in a critical condition.”

Inspector Fitzroy Yearwood, who was traveling to Belize City from Orange Walk, stopped to assist, but would continue on his journey minutes after providing Hall with some tools to change the flat tire.

Fitzroy Yearwood

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“I stopped to assist him, but the jovial person that he is, he said Boss, I don’t want the two of us to be late so you go ahead; I am straight. This is a populated area and a police officer in uniform; you would expect the public to respect that. So when he told me this, I was confident that he was straight because he asked me for certain things and we did that. About eight-forty-nine a.m., he sent me a text and said that he just realized that it was two tires that got blown out. That’s the last time I got any contact from him until I was informed that he was badly beaten and his car was stolen.”

Duane Moody

“So whoever this person was took advantage of him at that point in time?”

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“Definitely, because if you notice, the vehicle was recovered and it is still using the donut on the front passenger side.”

A man would come to assist and later be seen hitting the officer to the head with an object. The incident is rather frightening as the attacker would make an attempt on his life despite the fact that Hall wore his police uniform. The stolen Mazda car was recovered on Pine Street in Orange Walk along with a man, who police believe is the culprit.

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“An investigation as conducted and the vehicle and a suspect was detained. The suspect was detained and brought to Belize City in connection to this incident. The vehicle was also recovered.”

Reporter

“Sir is this suspect, this gentleman, is criminal charges being brought against him?”

Supt. Hilberto Romero

“Yes, charges will be brought against him at the conclusion of this investigation. We have recorded some statements, we have the vehicle that is being processed and at the end of the investigation, he will be charged.”

Hall is attached to Precinct Three in Belize City and is a very close friend of Inspector Yearwood.

Insp. Fitzroy Yearwood

“Mister Hall and I go all the way back from when I was in Corozal in 2008. We became very good friends; at that time, he was just a special constable…he used to drive for us at the station. And since then, he and I forged a good friendship and relationship. It so happens that after he joined the rank and file, he ended up working with me and it brings happiness to both of us. We are familiar with each other. So to see an officer of this caliber, who never abuses his authority of power, in that condition that he was in yesterday, it ached my heart. But I felt good when he said, “Boss, I will get better directly and I will come to work.” I mean the words – he is always thinking about work and always willing to work. So we at Precinct Three, our family here, we are suffering from this.”

Duane Moody for News Five.