Police chase ends in shooting, pursuit of wrong man

The police are investigating to see whether officers were justified in firing shots in a residential neighbourhood on Thursday night. The incident took place in the St. Martin De Porres area of Belize City following a chase between authorities and a car thief. Earlier that afternoon the suspect brazenly stole a late model Mitsubishi Montero from in front of the Belize Bank. The vehicle, which is owned by bank manager Louis Swasey, was seen later that night on the Northern Highway travelling towards Belize City. A roadblock was set up at Ladyville, but it did not deter the man who simply drove through the obstruction. A chase followed that took the police and the suspect over the Belcan Bridge onto Central American Boulevard and then to Mahogany and Zericote Streets. It was at this junction that the police fired what they claimed were several warning shots…but one bullet struck the side view mirror of a van which was travelling on Mahogany Street. According to its driver, nineteen year old Jody Burgess, he was heading home after attending a game at the City Centre and as he reached the intersection he was caught in the chase. Burgess says after his vehicle was hit he sped off towards Tibruce Street. But much to his surprise the police were now pursuing him and not their original suspect who by this time had abandoned the stolen vehicle and escaped on foot. Burgess says as he ran towards his house he screamed for his mother to open the door. Emily Guy says when she heard her son shouting she went outside and that’s when she saw the police grab him by the shirt and drag him onto the street. Guy says when she asked what was the problem, they told her to shut up and to move out of the way. Burgess was searched and after the police discovered that he was not their man, they released him. Later that night Guy says she went to the police station and reported the incident. There she was told that the police would compensate her for the damage done to the vehicle’s mirror. Today, the police say they have launched an internal investigation to determine if there was inappropriate use of firearms.