Prison Officer Shoots Himself As Prisoner Attempts to Escape
A special constable attached to the Orange Walk Formation of the Police Department is tonight in a stable condition at the Northern Regional Hospital after he accidentally shot himself in the foot, while in hot pursuit of an escaping prisoner. Just after six this morning, Special Constable and Prisoner Warden Lenardo Bol and several other officers were cleaning out the cell block, as is routine, when prisoner Frederic Rhaburn of Corozal saw it as an opportunity for him to escape. Rhaburn scaled the cell block fence, but was caught shortly after in the neighborhood. But in the process of pursuing the escapee, SC Bol’s police-issued firearm discharged and the bullet caught him in the leg. Officer Commanding Orange Walk Police Superintendent Selvyn Tillett told News Five about the incident.
Selvyn Tillett
Supt. Selvyn Tillett, O.C., Orange Walk Police
“At abut six-fifteen a.m. Lenardo Bol, special constable and prisoner warden for the Orange Walk formation along with other police officers were cleaning the Orange Walk Cell Block when one Frederic Rhaburn from San Antonio, Corozal—a remanded prisoner—ran away and jumped the cell block fence. SC Bol and other police officers ran behind him. When Bol took out his police issued pistol, it accidentally went off injuring Bol on the left leg. He has since been admitted at the Northern Regional Hospital in a stable condition. Frederick Rhaburn was later captured and has since been arrested and charged for the crime of escape.”
Duane Moody
“What is the protocol when carrying out this process of cleaning the cell block that the prisoner felt that he could have gotten away?”
Supt. Selvyn Tillett
“A prisoner is not a good prisoner if he has never had the intention of escaping. Police officers have to always be alert. There were enough police officers taking care of them and that is the reason why he was able to be caught after he ran away.”
Rhaburn is wanted in Corozal in connection with a string of robbery related offenses.
Wrong answer, prisoners with less criminal history should clean cells, while the police or jailers stand outside watching the person doing the cleaning with the doors locked. Any opportunity a prisoner sees he will attempt to escape.