Orange Walk Police Shoots Man

The police department is at the front lines of enforcing the state of emergency. But ensuring compliance with the regulations has opened up opportunity for abuse. There is the well known case of a mentally challenged woman coerced into having sex and videoed by officers.  In San Pedro, separate videos circulated showing officers hitting two persons. Tonight, there is another case involving a police officer. Here is Hipolito Novelo with a report.

Hipolito Novelo, Reporting

On Monday Commissioner of Police Chester Williams said this:

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“We have seen a drastic reduction in the amount of abuse complaints and I am only hoping that it continues to go down.”

Maybe the Commissioner spoke too soon because in recent days, people are coming forward to complain about the Belize Police Department and its officers.

In Orange Walk, the family of twenty one year old Edmond Bull believes that the police officer used excessive force when he shot Bull to the left leg on Wednesday.

Bull had just exited the Orange Walk courthouse when he was informed by an officer that he was going to be arrested. A reason was not given and Bull ran. The officer was not able to catch up to him, but an officer who was reporting for work noticed Bull running and fired the shot.

On the Phone: Novelee Leiva, Girlfriend of Edmond Bull

“He went in to get his little paper and when I saw him come out fine, one police came out after him. He had already crossed the other and the police told him, Edmond Bull come here we are going to lock you up. He told him, why? The police did not tell him why he would lock him up. He said, no man, they will not lock up me for nothing. He crossed the road and the police chased him and he ran. We were there. The police started to chase him but he ran. We were asking the police why he shot him. The police said that he thought he was running from Police. He was not sure that he was running from police. He did not tell him to stop. He just shot him right so.”

Hipolito Novelo

“But Edmond was running away from police?”

On the Phone: Novelee Leiva

“Yes, but the police did not chase him far. He just kind of run and he saw that Edmond ran fast and he couldn’t chase him. He stopped and came back where we were.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Do you believe that police did not have to shoot Edmond?”

On the Phone: Novelee Leiva

“No, that should not have happened.”

Bull was sought for damage to property. He remains in the stable condition at the Northern Regional Hospital. Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.