Brandon Baptist Speaks Out on Police Harassment after Being in Lockdown on New Year’s Day
Brandon Baptist
On December thirty-first, Denise Flowers reached out to News Five to express her frustration with what she claims is the constant harassment of her sons by police officers. That morning, Hubert and Brandon Baptist were taken into custody after police searched their residence off Police Street, Belize City. Nothing incriminating was found on the property, but the Baptist brothers were locked down for the New Year, reportedly for gang involvement and because their names had allegedly made their way onto a list created by the police. While Hubert was released on the evening of January first, Brandon, who is no stranger to the law, was held for forty-eight hours and released this morning. Brandon says that he’s been out of jail for less than a year and feels that he and his family are being targeted. He claims the lockdown was uncalled for and says the police harassment needs to stop.
Brandon Baptist, Claims Police Harassment
“Me tired ah di police di harass and harass and harass me pan nada yo know. Noh only the new years I di talk about; before that. They bally stay di come dah my yard and di harass me and di harass me. I just want mek unu know I noh into no problem. Me noh into no problem and I feel like unu di push me fi make I start a problem or do something. Me noh into weh unu into. Me into humble myself. I got mi barbershop right there weh I work ina. I stay home fi di same reason and anytime yo come bother me, weh unu find me? Dah my yard. Anything weh happen round ya, unu want blame me. Weh di go on with unu? Unu back up off ah me. Me tiad a that.”
Duane Moody
“You think you are being targeted because of your past?”
Brandon Baptist
“I think dah that right there mien. I think dah that right there. From I come off ah my murder, dehn man dehn stay mess with me and come dah my yard. I call Mister Chester Williams in person and he tell me, bwai Brandon yo have to show that yo change. Bredda you noh di see? Me change mi bredda; me noh into no problem. Me stay dah my yard fi di same reason. Me dah noh know gang nothing. Me dah no gang nothing. Me stay home fi protect my family.”
