Taxi Man Chops Taxi Man Over Cab Fare

A chopping incident in downtown Belize City on Tuesday afternoon has resulted in cabdriver Gerald Lewis receiving multiple injuries to the body.  The incident, however, was not reported to police immediately.  It was not until this afternoon that the victim visited the police station on Queen Street to file a complaint against his attacker.  Police say that Lewis and fellow taxi man Cecil Buckley got into a heated exchange of words in front of Ocean Ferry Water Taxi on North Front Street.  That exchange resulted in Buckley producing a machete and inflicting multiple wounds to Lewis.  This afternoon, police provided details on the incident, as well as the charges that will be brought against Buckley.

Alejandro Cowo

ASP Alejandro Cowo, O.C., C.I.B., Belize City

“There was a chopping incident earlier that Tuesday, at just about 3:30.  The matter was just reported to the police a while ago, hence the reason that your request was not met because the guy finally visited the station a while ago and made a report.  He was Mr. Gerald Lewis.  He was at North Front Street Ocean Ferry taxi stand when he had a dispute with another taxi operator, Mr. Buckley, and as a result an exchange of words began between the two of them.  The situation got tense where Mr. Buckley pulled out a machete and chopped him three times on his body.  Fortunately, the injuries were not so grave.  He was admitted to the hospital, he was treated and he was released.”

Reporter

“Will he be charged and what are the charges?”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“Yes, at this moment, as I mentioned, the man is giving a statement.  So after the conclusion the police will determine what will be the charges.  I know that the medico-form had already been certified by the doctor, so that will be one charge and another charge for aggravated assault will be the other one because of the machete.”