Ex-cop freed of extortion charge; plans to sue Police Dept.

Francis Ogaldez

Meanwhile, it turned out better for another ex-cop who was on trial. Francis Ogaldez was accused of extorting four hundred dollars from Ladyville residents, Windell White and his common-law-wife, Sonia Guerra last September fourteen. A jury of nine persons asked the court for more time when they could not reach a verdict but after almost three hours in deliberations, Ogaldez was free to go. The jury’s decision was not unanimous; eight of the jurors thought he was not guilty of the crime, and one thought he was. With that the former police was freed of the charge that had been hanging over his head for almost two years. Immediately after his acquittal, Ogaldez said he will sue the Belize Police Department. At the time, the department conducted a sting operation in the vicinity of White’s home in the Japan area of Ladyville and claimed that they saw when White handed over to Ogaldez, a package that they later said was found in the seat of a red Nissan pick-up car. The car belonged to another police officer, Glenroy Moore.  Ogaldez was accused of visiting White’s home to collect four hundred dollars in cash for an alleged accident White was involved in last August. White could not remember details because he was intoxicated and Ogaldez was accused of offering to make it go away. Ogaldez claimed he was set up and in the end the jury was not convinced that he extorted money. He is now working at the Fort Point Security located at the Tourism Village.