Robber thwarted by citizens, off duty cop

A Belize City man is behind bars tonight after a downtown robbery was thwarted by some brave citizens, including an off duty police officer. According to the cops, around nine this morning, an employee of Barry Lin, a businessman operating from the corner of Vernon Street and Collet Canal, was walking on Duck Lane when a man attacked him with pepper spray. The assailant grabbed the employee’s bag, containing approximately eighty thousand dollars and ran towards Regent Street West. But that’s when his luck ran out. Alerted by the commotion, a passer-by stepped in to help and an off-duty policeman in the area provided some backup. When the dust settled, the thief was restrained and escorted to the Queen Street police station. This afternoon authorities charged that man, twenty-eight year old Felix Ramirez, with one count of robbery. As to why the employee was carrying so much cash on the street, Mr. Lin, who would not confirm the amount, told News 5 that he was heading for the B.T.L. offices on Church Street to buy phone cards. As for the good samaritans in this case, only P.C. Ryan Young has been publicly identified, but we certainly thank him and the others who stood up to be counted.