G.S.U. Detained Ryan Rhaburn by Tight Chokehold

Twenty-one-year-old Ryan Rhaburn was arrested and charged along with two others on October thirtieth, 2017, concerning the robbery of a pawnshop in Belmopan a few days earlier.  Rhaburn was arraigned on a single count of abetment to commit robbery for his alleged role in the heist.  Since being released on bail, however, he has reportedly found himself to be the subject of intense police scrutiny.  That’s because he is involved in an ongoing legal matter with the owners of another pawnshop in Belize City.  The proprietors of that establishment, it is alleged, are trying to get to Rhaburn for monies owed to their business and they are reportedly stopping at nothing to having him pay the debt.  Tonight, he is once again in the news because of an incident that unfolded on Antelope Street Extension on Monday evening when he was approached by a team of GSU officers.  According to Rhaburn’s girlfriend, they were followed home by the policemen and upon arriving at their residence; they requested a search of the young man.  During the frisk, GSU personnel reportedly attempted to take a photograph of Rhaburn and that’s when things went downhill quickly.  Footage of Rhaburn being put in a vicious chokehold has since gone viral on social media.  His girlfriend narrated to News Five what took place before their two children.

Voice of: Girlfriend of Ryan Rhaburn

“We did a regular routine whereby he picks me up from work, we go to the kids’ babysitters, pick them up.  We stopped home, he came out of the vehicle, opened the backdoor for my daughter.  While he was doing that the vehicle stopped, the GSU officer jumped out.  He seemed angry and arrogant and he said, “Turn ‘round, we have to search you.”  He did exactly what they said, asked for his name, he said it, they asked for an ID and he did that as well.  He did exactly what they said, then they said, “Stand up mek we tek yo picture.”  And that’s when I intervened and said [that] as far as I know you’re not supposed to take anyone’s picture because that was said on the media, that [Deputy Commissioner of Police] Chester Williams said they don’t need to take your picture and he refused to have them take his picture because he knows his rights.  The officer said, “Well, we wahn ker yoh soh” and started shoving him and he said, “I’m not going anywhere.”  And that’s when they put him in a chokehold. And then they dragged him towards the truck, had him on the floor, standing over him, putting full force and it’s not like he’s a big guy or he has the same body weight as them for them to be so aggressive towards him.  They had him in a chokehold several times.”