M-16 rifle missing from sleeping B.D.F. soldier

Another high powered weapon is missing from the Belize Defense Force and this time it’s an M-sixteen A-one rifle.  The weapon had a full magazine of thirty ball rounds of five point five six millimeter ammunition when it went missing. The circumstances of its disappearance are unlike the M-four carbine which was discovered missing over a month ago on January tenth.  The M-four carbine was recently recovered in the possession of Gary Seawell, a fugitive who was on the run from U.S. and Belize authorities.  So one week after the recovery of the M-four, the B.D.F. is left to investigate one of its own about another high powered weapon.  Two B.D.F. soldiers who were supposed to be on foot patrol with a police officer, neglected their duties on Rocky Road, and went to the officer’s car and fell asleep.  When they woke up at four am, the M-sixteen was missing.   The B.D.F.’s Adjutant, Major Alvin Amoa, says that disciplinary measures will be taken against both soldiers for neglecting their duties.

Major Alvin Amoa, Adjutant, B.D.F.

Major Alvin Amoa

“The soldiers and the police went to the area but did not conduct the foot patrol. They went into the policeman’s private vehicle where they fell asleep.  Sometime about four or a little after four, the soldier woke up and found out he didn’t have his M-16 in his possession.”

Jose Sanchez

“Going to someone else’s private vehicle, did that go against regulation?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“From the B.D.F. perspective it goes against regulation.”

Jose Sanchez

“Did they say if the doors were locked or if the windows were down?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“The doors for the vehicle were locked. But the window was apparently opened just below half way. From initially, the soldier said that the window was partly up but after a while it got stuffy and he brought down the window a bit more. He then fell asleep.”

Jose Sanchez

“When you’re on duty don’t you always carry your gun on you whether you’re being casual or not?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“Well the standing orders for police duty means your weapon must be attached to your person, meaning that either onto your webbing, wrist, hence the reason why we made a police standing orders that is the regulation for all police duties and he failed to carry out that duty. And also the regulation is that they are not to be sleeping when tasked to foot patrol, which they breached that regulation also.”

Jose Sanchez

“Where did he say that he placed the weapon?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“According to the soldier, he was in the front seat of the vehicle. It’s a two door vehicle and he was in the front seat and he had the weapon between his legs.”

Jose Sanchez

“Will there be any disciplinary measures taken?”

Major Alvin Amoa

“The disciplinary measures will be taken against two of the soldiers that were on duty because both of them contravened regulation standing orders. So it will not be only against the soldier that lost his weapon but also, the soldier who was tasked to be patrolling along with him.”

Jose Sanchez

“They were supposed to be on foot patrol but they were asleep in a car.”

Clement Palacio, Police Press Officer

“Yes, but they were still on duty. The fact that they slept was another matter. The officer of internal affairs in discipline is conducting an investigation into this matter and the outcome will determine what charges if any will be levied if any. In regards to the weapon itself, I think the importance is its recovery and I think from that criminal perspective, the Police Department is trying to see what they can do to assist to that end.”

Major Amoa says that if anyone has any information about the missing weapon, they should contact him or Major Amoa at Price Barracks by calling 225-2174.