Chan Pine Ridge villagers capture wanted man

And back in Belize, Julio Martinez was on the most wanted list, and after being on the run for almost four months, he is back in police custody. Martinez was wanted for a series of offences and was found guilty of Aggravated Assault, but the thirty-one year old Guatemalan national escaped from the Orange Walk Magistrates’ Court just minutes before being sentenced in March of this year. Martinez has evaded police several times but his luck ran out on Sunday afternoon when he was caught by villagers in Chan Pine Ridge and turned over to Orange Walk police. And while he will have to answer to escape charges, Martinez is also a person of interest in the murder of sixty-seven year old Jose Manuel Salazar, a watchman who was found strangled to death inside his home in the Carmelita Village on March eighth. News Five spoke with the second officer in charge of the Orange Walk Police, Inspector Selvin Tillett who told us that Martinez was treated at the Northern Regional Hospital for injuries he sustained while trying to escape the villagers.

Inspector Selvin Tillett, 2nd O.C., Orange Walk Police
“Julio Martinez was the person—a Guatemalan national—who had escaped from the Orange Walk Magistrates’ Court while awaiting sentencing for aggravated assaulted and other related offences. He had escaped sometime in March or April of this year. And he was caught by the villagers on Chan Pine Ridge Village on Sunday where about three-thirty they handed him over to the police. He had escaped from court March April and he was wanted some time before like eight months prior to that in regards to some murder that happened with a little old man on the Chan Pine Ridge Road, a watchman.”

Duane Moody
“Is that sixty-seven year old Manuel Salazar that was found on a camp on that road sir?”

Insp. Selvin Tillett
“You got your information correct sir.”

Duane Moody
“And now he was wanted in connection for that?”

Insp. Selvin Tillett
“He was a person of interest I would say.”

Duane Moody
“What is it that he will be charged for since he evaded the police and being sentenced?”

Insp. Selvin Tillett
“He has a case before the court for Robbery and also he’ll be charged for Escape along with others.”

In the case of Salazar’s murder, Tillett says the matter is still under investigation. And if evidence should link Martinez to the crime he will be subsequently charged with Murder.