Camalote Resident Knocked Down, Killed by Police Officer

Roy Vansen

A mentally ill resident from the village of Camalote was knocked down and killed on Thursday night. Roy Vansen was walking about a mile away from his house when he was hit by a police mobile driven by a cop. Vansen, who is a market assistant in Belmopan, perished on the spot. Here is News Five’s Duane Moody with a report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

A police officer has been served with a notice of intended prosecution after he knocked down and killed a fifty-seven-year-old Camalote resident overnight. The cop was driving a police mobile and was responding to an incident in the village when he hit Roy Vansen in the vicinity of Chicken Run. Vansen died on the spot.

Joseph Myvett

ACP Joseph Myvett, Head, National Crimes Investigation Branch

“Three police officers were onboard a police mobile patrol westbound to check into an information when upon the driver reaching between miles forty-nine and fifty, a dark complexioned male person suddenly came onto the highway and was unavoidably hit by the police mobile. As a result, the ambulance was called to the scene, however, at that time the person was already motionless.”

According to police, Vansen had been drinking and socializing earlier that night in proximity to where he lived in the village. Around eleven-thirty p.m. he was walking on the highway, about a mile away from where he lived, when he was killed.

ACP Joseph Myvett

“We also found out during our investigation that Mister Vansen lives alone and he was supposedly socializing at a home in that area prior to the incident. The normal procedures were followed being that the driver was requested of urine and blood samples, which he gave, and he has since been released after being served with a notice of intended prosecution. It is an unfortunate incident; however, we still need to put together an investigation file which will be submitted to the D.P.P. for her direction into this matter.”

It is not known what Vansen was doing in the area, since a curfew was in effect. What is known is that on a daily basis, “Shorty,” as he’s affectionately known, made his keep by helping around the marketplace in Belmopan. He, according to the family he lives with, had a mental illness. They were informed around twelve-thirty about his demise.

Thelmarei Staine, Close Friend of Deceased

“Shorty left Thursday morning fi gone dah work; which in he always help people out dah market fi make ih own pocket money. But he neva return ina di evening. I noh know if ih mi di do after hours work with the people, but after twelve, one ina di morning, we got a phone call that they say dehn knock down Shorty by the police and he died on the spot.”

The incident has left the officer traumatised and Commissioner of Police Chester Williams says that they are working to get that officer counselling.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“It is an unfortunate situation for us. The police officer is question, arrangements are being made for him to undergo counselling because for him it is hard as well. It is not something easy to know that you have taken the life of someone unintentionally. I do not know the circumstances other than what the officers have reported. But I want to take the opportunity to express our sincere condolence to the family of the deceased person. We ourselves need to do our part for our officers to ensure that they too can overcome the trauma of this experience.”

Duane Moody for News Five.