Chinese shopkeeper beaten by off-duty cop

There were no guns involved and no money was stolen but today, yet another Chinese shop keeper is recovering from a brutal attack, this one allegedly at the hands of an off duty police officer. Eyewitnesses to the incident tell News Five that around 7:30 last night, three men and two women walked into Zhong Wang’s at the corner of Sixth and Hopkins streets, to buy fried chicken and beer. The group had been drinking at the restaurant next door earlier in the evening and were allegedly well under the influence. News Five understands that as the food and drinks were served, one man from the group, a former BDF now turned police officer, started to harass the store keeper, Tam Kin Chan, demanding that his food be chopped in small pieces. He backed up this demand with the admonition he was a police officer and allegedly pulled out his identification card to prove it. As his friends looked on, the officer suddenly reached through the steel grill and punched Chan in the face. He then broke a Belikin bottle on the counter and began stabbing Chan. Next the attacker attempted to get behind the counter to continue the beating, but now even though he was bleeding profusely from his face and head, the Chinese man, armed with an iron rod, came outside to defend himself. Chan’s brother, an assistant in the store, also jumped in and the scuffle became an all out brawl. At this point, the building’s owner, Regla Robateau, who was in the shop at the time, says she stepped in between Chan and the officer and began to shout that the police were coming. The attacker and his four friends quickly left the store. Chan was rushed to the K.H.M.H. where several of his cuts were stitched closed. Chan’s brother suffered a cut over his eye and another on his right arm. Police Press Officer Christy Castillo told News Five that they do have a list of suspects but have yet to detain anyone. When we contacted the Belize Defence Force, officials confirmed that one of the suspects involved in this case identified to us only as “Moore,” was a member of the B.D.F. but is now a police officer. Witnesses describe the attacker as a brown skinned Creole man, about five feet seven inches tall. Residents of the area say the man lives in the King’s Park neighborhood near the store. Witnesses to this attack did not wish to appear on camera because they say they fear for their safety. Zhong Wang’s has been in operation for about two months.