Police ransack home on Hunter’s Lane

Belize City was shocked at the daytime shooting of Yang Lee Chan as she stood behind the counter of De He Li Grocery Shop on Tuesday. But today residents of a well-known hot spot are furious at the way police have been conducting the search for the weapon used in the crime. What News Five saw today on Hunter’s Lane was similar to the situation we encountered yesterday on Racecourse Street when police claim they were looking for drugs.

The house, situated at number 24 Hunter’s Lane is the home of Erlinda Bodden the mother of three of the men police have detained for questioning in the Chinese robbery and murder. This morning police left nothing untouched as they ripped through the ceiling, sofa set and searched through a barrel of clothes. Bodden says police have raided her house several times since Tuesday telling her they are looking for a weapon and ammunition.

Erlinda Bodden, Resident

“They broke down the house; they broke down the ceiling; they gone into the room; they search in his room. They are looking for ammunition. I feel that when they come into people’s house they suppose to come with respect; don’t come and break up people’s house. And because you tell them about it, they tell you that somebody send them. I no see nobody send them to come and break people house like that so. And it is not even our house; we are renting.”

But according to the police they do not need a search warrant to look for firearm or ammunition and that the search was conducted in the presence of Ms. Bodden and her family. The police say they were acting on a tip and felt it was necessary to conduct a thorough search.

So far police have detained, but not charged Dean “Mr. T” Bodden, Stanley and Carington Bodden, Lincoln “Kilo Boy” Allen and Andrew “Outlaw” Kelly in connection with the murder of Yang Lee Chan. In a separate raid on Wednesday residents of seven homes on Racecourse Street say nine officers led by Inspector Edward Broaster broke the locks to their homes and ransacked them claiming they were looking for drugs.