San Pedro Man Drowns in the Haulover Creek near the Swing Bridge

Alejandro Cowo

The body of a San Pedro resident was fished out of the Haulover Creek near the Swing Bridge. It is believed that Manuel Mendoza drowned sometime and his body spotted in the water sometime around eight-thirty on Saturday night. Residents gathered along the bridge and Scenes of Crime personnel from the Police Department arrived at the scene. With the assistance from the Belize Coast Guard, the body of Mendoza was retrieved and taken to the K.H.M.H. morgue where a post mortem is scheduled for Tuesday. ASP Alejandro Cowo says that foul play is not suspected.

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

“Police responded to a body seen floating by the river on the Swing Bridge. As a result the police requested the assistance of the Belize Coast Guard where the body of a male person was retrieved from the river, who was identified as Manuel Mendoza, other particulars unknown at this time. The body was taken out of the river and it was inspected and there is no foul play was suspected. We understand that he is a person that does not have a fixed address and most of the time he was living under the bridge or by the Commercial Centre. The family members have been contacted already.”

Duane Moody

“I understand that he is originally from San Pedro.”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“Yes he is from San Pedro, but he had left the family many years ago.”

Reporter

“Is he somebody that had mental issues?”

ASP Alejandro Cowo

“What we suspect is that he is an alcoholic and it was one of those persons that normally you see right by the Commercial Centre.”