Police raid proves deadly for dog
In crime news there was another shooting in Belize City…but instead of the forensic pathologist, this one was a case for the Humane Society. Jacqueline Woods reports.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Around twelve-thirty this afternoon police arrived at the home of Shane Meighan to search the premises. Shortly after, residents living along East Collet Canal suddenly heard a loud bang. The police had fired a fatal shot, no not at Meighan, but at his dog that apparently rushed the officers after they entered the compound.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“The police entered the yard, they of course searching for drugs or firearms, they don’t necessarily even need a search warrant. They entered the yard and Mr. Meighan, I understand, as there and saw them enter the yard, made no attempt to tie the dog or even warn the police that there was a dog there. And the police, approaching Mr. Meighan to speak with him, the dog attacked and was about two feet from one of the officers, who in defending himself had to shoot the dog.”
However, Meighan told News 5 that the police did not ask him or anyone at the house to secure the dog. In fact, he says when he first saw the cops they were already upstairs at his front door and it is at that time he remembered that the pit bull was loose… but by then it was too late.
Meighan says while he understands the police were there to do their job, the authorities should have first stayed outside of his yard and asked him to secure the dog before they entered his place. Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid says the police had no choice.
G. Michael Reid
“To be honest with you, anybody that’s under attack, whether it be from any source, and certainly these vicious dogs, this was a pit bull and they have been known to do a lot of damage to people. You must understand that the police has every right to defend himself in the event of being threatened.”
Jacqueline Woods
“What was the police doing at Mr. Meighan’s residence?”
G. Michael Reid
“The police was conducting an operation this afternoon. As a matter of fact, it was an all day operation geared towards targeting areas where we had information that there might be activities involving illicit drugs.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Did the police find anything?”
G. Michael Reid
“As far as I know, at that location there was nothing found.”
It is not certain what action, if any, Meighan will take but the authorities continue to fight crime.
This evening, construction on the latest police booth was completed at the B.T.L. Park on Newtown Barracks. The booth, which is located right across from the MJ’s Grand, will provide extra security for the area, which is often crowded, particularly on the weekend.
Meanwhile the police continue to confiscate weapons. This afternoon they displayed their latest find following a week’s operation in the city.
G. Michael Reid
“These are not a part of the amnesty programme. We still are encouraging people who have illegal firearms to turn them in. Certainly as the commissioner stated, the department will not stop its work and will continue to target areas where we know have illegal firearms, where we know there is drug activities, where any type of crime is committed. The police is here to protect the interest of the community and certainly we’re going to do everything we can to make the city safer.”
Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
