Beatings, lung collapsing, peppering of eyes in police custody
Dr. Herbert Gayle, the social anthropologist finds that the police are at war with the youths and sixty percent of young people have witnessed police brutality. This was disclosed on Monday by the Gayle research team. Well tonight, a twenty year old resident of Cayo is tonight hospitalized at the Belmopan Regional Hospital. His ordeal started last Wednesday when he was pulled over in an area of San Ignacio known as Konkiti. He claims he was tortured by the cops at the police station, even after he had been charged. His family is calling for a thorough investigation. News Five’s Jose Sanchez was in Belmopan today and spoke to the victim.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Twenty-eight year old Richard Contreras says he was brutalized by San Ignacio police officers after he was pulled over in a search for drugs that netted only fifteen point five grams of cannabis.
Richard Contreras, Claims Police Brutality
richard contreras
“Dehn charge me and mi deh inna some crazy pain and thing. I gone up dah di Magistrate Court, get bail, dehn sign my bail and thing den I come down back. Dehn mi have wah warrant fi me. So now I request fi go dah hospital and dehn noh want ker me. I tell dehn well I need fi seek medical attention because I deh inna some pain due to my head and everything mi swell. Dehn neva want ker me so den di police tell me di only way I go, mek I run. So I tell ah I noh wah do dat, I noh wah run. So di man tell me well, dat dah di only way he could ker me, if I run. Di evening PC Teul come by himself come give di tea. So I just decide inna my mind fi walk out ah di police station and go dah di hospital. Dat dah when I just walk out and I gone. Den di man bust wah two shot afta me from inna di police station, look fi ketch me eena my head and thing. Same time I drop. Well I gone head, den di man arrest me right deh by di bank.”
He now faces a charge of Escape. But after being beaten on the street, he was taken back to the San Ignacio Police Formation where he describes the additional experience as torture.
Richard Contreras
“Four ah dehn pan me one. One ah dehn stand up pan my balls, one ah dehn stamp me dah my belly, stamp me dah my back and everything. At least fi wah good fifteen, twenty minutes dehn beat me; whap me up pan my foot wid some club, two ah dehn. Dehn time deh now wah next CIB come een and he seh unu lef ah lone. He come een now and he get wah peppa. Ih put on gloves, ih get wah peppa and ih put some salt pan it and lee bit ah wata den ih mash it up eena ih hand. From deh ih come from behind and ih grab me inna my face and stifle me. Dat dah when I feel like I can’t breathe. So I start to bawl out cause ih di burn whole ah my face and thing. So now di peppa when he start rub it, di seed gone eena my eye. Same time I can’t si no more so dat dah when dehn start beat me more and more. I just start to feel di kick dehn all ova my body. Dehn time deh now, yoh have dis prosecutor from Cayo, George Gomez, he come een and he tell dehn mek dehn slow down off ah me and mek dehn stop beat me.”
While this all started on Wednesday, Contreras’ family was not allowed to visit him. On Sunday, four days later, Contreras’ sister Ruth, demanded to see him.
ruth contreras
Ruth Contreras , Sister of Richard Contreras
“I asked one of the officers if I could see my brother. He told me no. I told him I brought pills because they told us that he was complaining with pain and he told me that he cannot accept that. I told him well then take him to the hospital if he is in a lot of pain because he thinks one of his ribs is broken. So he said we already took him. So I told him why should we believe you? Then he brought his diary over the counter and showed me and in the diary it showed that the doctor requested an ultrasound and an x-ray on his money. I told him I’ll do it and he said he still cannot authorize that. So he kept me there and I was begging and begging and I said okay, if you don’t want to I won’t put a fight over it. But I was mad because there was another gentleman there accused of murder, the doctor went to see him way in there to give him injection. So what’s the difference? My brother was just charged for drugs.”
After he was taken to the hospital, Ruth expected her brother to be taken back for the results. But after being denied, she had to consult a doctor with the x-rays.
Ruth Contreras
“I went to the local hospital. I took it there and Dr. Goncalves saw the x-ray and she said your brother needs to come in now because one of his lungs has collapsed. So I told her doctor you need to make a call. So she actually called in front of me saying that for their own good to let Richard Contreras be brought to the hospital. We waited and waited and waited two more hours, they did not bring him. She was mad, she said okay this is too much. So she actually went down to the police station in her own vehicle. We went with her, she spoke to Mr. Teul, I don’t know what she said to Mr. Teul or what they talked about but we went back to the hospital and Dr. Goncalves said that they will be bringing him in a short while.”
At four on Sunday evening Contreras was taken to Western Regional Hospital.
Ruth Contreras
“When they brought him, already he wasn’t breathing. They had to put him on oxygen then they called Doctor Godoy and that’s when Dr. Godoy pierced him with a long piece of metal and put a tube direct to his lungs collapse and it’s not the normal size it’s just small and there’s a lot of air in there due to the bruise.”
Jose Sanchez
“Both you and your brother mention the same officer.”
Ruth Contreras
“Yes, Mr. Teul, he doesn’t like my brother for what reason I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he has been in and out of their hands. They are always pinning him, holding him, releasing him and there’s just a lot of things going on in San Ignacio especially with that police officer and he’s not the only person that they have done this to but I think it’s time for us to wake up and speak out.”
Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
According to Ruth Contreras, the experience with the police department has not been entirely negative. Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Wade said he would personally investigate the allegations and every day this week the Deputy O.C. for San Ignacio, Claudio Mai, has been making daily inquiries about her brother’s condition.
Its time that citizens know that they can take action against the individual police, the government and the Police department. And if the matter is not dealt with properly in Belize , they can address their problems outside of Belize as Belize has signed on to many convensions, such as Human Rights and the Central American court. Its time this nonsense stop where police think they have a God given right to abuse the public and take the law into their own hands and be judge and jurior. You don’t have to wait for the government to take court (civil) action against the police, you can do it yourself as a sovereign person with personal rights. Remember folks, if you can read the information is on the Internet how to use the law for your defense.
This brutality and sadistic behavour will slow down, if not stop, when the first police loses a civil case and have to pay damages. Stop wasting your time with complain to police internal affairs, because its rear when a police will go against another police officer, its like going against your blood brother.
ITt wouldn’t be a surprise to me if they start putting hit on certain police officers. No one is to be above the law, whenever you lose the trust of the community the whole country feels. More crimes are committed and know one will talk but people will take matters into their own hands. Trust me, everyone has a limit. There is an Alpha and an Omega.
wow! this is very interesting story! of course nothing will come out of this as the police will always have a defense. how if they should put in cameras in the police station? I am always eager to catch this police on my own hidden camera and post it on youtube.
I am not condoning the action of police, but around town almost everybody know who dis young man is, they are in crime from very young, they theif, take drugs, because of them you can’t even walk the street freely especially during night time, cause they are ready to hold up people, in fact his brother is in jail, for murder, he killed a taxi man a few years ago, and the nation need to that the parent condone their action, then they want to be seen around town holding a bible under their arm,wow
YOU CANNOT MOCK GOD. EVERYTHING COMES OUT IN THE LIGHT.
THESE BOYS ARE VIOLENT PEOPLE, WHEN YOU SEE DEM WITH WARM CAPS OVER THEIR HEAD, AND WALKING TOWARD YOU, YOU EITHER STAND UP TO THEM OR RUN.
YOUR ACTION CONTRERAS CATCH UP ON YOU, NOW, he know how many people they have already holdup, GOOD FOR HIM.
Please its time that this bad man goes to jail, maybe only so the citizens of this this town will be able to walk freely around town, he contreras know exactly how old men and women he have hold up, his mother condone everything they do, she hide the stolen goods for them,wow
he and his brother have broken into computer places, shop houses and many other places,
I am so happy he got that beating and I care less what anybody thing about me,
he and his gangs bway them always want to intimidate people in the community, they dress like gangs, walk like gangs dem pants bellow them backside, warm cap, cursing anybody who look to hard at them HMMMM, people are even afraid to report them, and police could never catch them!!
that’s a good idea tim, these babylons in cayo seem to be johnny bravos, but let there be a shooting they’ll come in a two hour time later. i think that some time later people will start kill them one by one by the way they treat people. i’m not defending the crime of drug trafficking but the way they treat people. i’ve seen them kick drunk people but if they arrest a murder go go along with fear. let’s all start snappig pics and video hoping that channel 5 would be willing to post these types of things on the air. channel 5 please open a email account names police brutality @ ……. whatever so we can all send pics of even crime we see or watch.
its so funny how these young men go around town terrorizing people, then you see the family talking over TV about how good they are, what about when they beat up all those little old ladies and men to take away the little bit of money they have, how about the times when they broke in business and take what they want, I cant believe people take God for pappy show, cause you see this same family making a lot of noise in church on sundays,they hide behind the bible just like how they hide the action of the sons, and the hot stuff in their house,
Common people of Belize, why feel sorry a lee beating he get, compare to all the people they have hurt, these people are truly son of satan cause they know how to get away, thank God not for too long!!
Listen you stupid piece of …, its people like you and the ……. that had a lot to do with what is happening in our society. Yet the ……are peaching about the situation and when its gonna stop when they are the ones fueling it.
Let the police do what they have to do by any means necessary. I agree its wrong if it was an innocent person and worse a law abiding citizen. I know for sure that they dont know the character of this guy, murder, robber, harm, and the list can go on…… come on wake up people. lets get rid of these kind of people in our societ – we need a hereo……
A hope di Police & B.D.F. beat some sense eena dem lee youths r@$$ yes. Da dem di cause a lotta killing, thiefing and ting!!! Beat dem, kick dem but no kill dem!!!
Who are us to judge? not one of us are angels we all have been on the other side of the law and some point in our life. reguardless if the young man is not on the right track of life, this doesn’t means that it is okay for the officer who should be up holding the law brutalize someone that bad. that is a life and death situation and to be honest a charge of attempted murder. there a ways and laws in this country of our to deal with certain situation and its up to us to up keep it……
All i will say is congrats to the police who did gave Childrin that beating and a half he deserves that and more, his mother must be so disappointment in the kind of son she has he is a ….accomplice to a murder i know of an i wish i could take matters for myself but i will be thankful everyday that he was given a lil sample of his own medicine, criminals like him need to be killed not just punished, he should have died the same way he made my fam member die, judgement day will be your worst nightmare childrin so many people in cayo happy at what was done to u,
shameful for the police department…murderers get better treatment….
I agree with you…BERTY..It’s garbage like those that have our society the way it is..i don’t know the the garbage, but from what am reading he is nothing nice…so my conclusion is , BEAT THEM, KICK THEM, PEPPER THEM, NO KILL THEM, BUT MAIM THEM, do like what they do in Iraq you thief from someone. They chop off your hand so you neva THIEF again, you kill someone, they kill you. Belizeans need to stand up and take back we lee Belize from these parasites.
I’m sure this criminal will be off the street for a while. Good job Police Department, maybe he might even look for a job this. His own sister admits he is always in trouble with the law. Shame on her for defending him.
I personally believe that the police are out there to do there jobs. but this kind of behavior by certain police of the department against our people of this nation is uncall for. everyone has there up’s and down and when we break the law we are to pay the consequeces but i must say that that’s the reason that we have our justice system. This Police Corpral Tuel in my opion should be facing criminal charges for such brutality to this young man. Corpral Tuel you should be ashame of your self.
Corpral Tuel should indeed be ashamed of himself, he is a corpral he should be setting the example and not behaving in this animal way. The young fellow was in police custidy so why beat him, he was already detained. Half of these police officers do not have any education and no not know how to behave, in the US of in the first world they would be placed behind bars. I have heared allot about this officer and that he likes to take advantage of people and I hope that this time he will get charged for the crime that he has comitted. It is un called for.
I believe the force used by Corporal Teul was excessive.Why shot at someone because he walked out of the Police station.What threat was this guy imposing to Corporal Teaul by escaping?
To the last three comments!
If you people would know who are the CHILINDRNS, you would’nt criticise TEUL, or maybe you really don’t live in Belize any at all. there was once this old lady walking through a park in town about seven the night, with her grandaughter,suddenly here comes chilindrin, warm cap,pant bellow backside, stick in hand, as he got closer to them he suddenly took out a knife hold up the old lady and her grandaughter, for the little purse the old lady had in her hand, grab the granddaughter chian, gave them a big smile, and push them down to the ground, and went his way, strolling throught the park, they were his neighbours!!! Imagine that!! they recognize him, but the mother refuse to listen to them instead she curse them out for telling lies on her son, see !! He got a dose of what he has done to others!!! Teul should have broken his two hand, so he won’t be able to hold up anybody else in a hurry. This old woman was just one of the many people they have hold up.
Amazing how Karma works! Thanks for the Info Macal
Macal rivera:If this guy has comitted so many offense then why do they keep getting him off.?So he is not the problem the system is to blame .
thanks macal also for bringing the other side of the story that many time realtives of the so called victim denies on t.v but brings a cover up of the real life of these thugs. reading your info make me feel ya it’s good for him to feel the pain others go through when he feels like a rascal on the streets doing his thing in cayo, santa elena not, becuase he’ll get beat up the minute he crosses any of the bridges, reason why he’s well know of who he is.
Elgin MArtinez, you know why they get OFF, cause they are children of satan, they take God for a mock, you see his sister, she dah nothing good too, she would curse you out for her brothers, she and her mom cover up for them, you know when police come looking for them, the mother hide them, she and her daughter hide the stolen goods too, so police can never really catch them, and you know how some community members know, cause they the son bragg about it, when he hold up the little old lady, he did’nt even run, he continue stroll down the park like if he was so innocent, they are the untouchables around these town, you do your own research, his younger brother is in jail for killing the taxi man, the other brother is the same, believe me these people are violent, tht is why when we hear the chilindrins get a beating, it makes us feel good, Believe me, and nothing could be more disgusting than seeing the parents every sunday going to those evangelical churches, like if they are holy, yet when you complain to them anout dem picni, believe me they curse you out. see why they behave that way.
…. The police know the criminals in their area very well and after many failed attempts of bringing them to justice have failed they have to bring about their own form of justice. Too bad laws and the legal justice system exist only to defend criminals.
yep dah time chillindring get some a eh own mecidine caz he dah noh nothing good he dah a murderer, thief and pan top drug dealer d same sista weh gone pan news cova with him same blanket. So d police fih now d do d right thing. Keep it up
So typical of the police department! i realy do belive that they have it in for the youths! i have seen how they brutaly abuse a teen boy! it was just disgusting to watch them! realy and truly i have no trust in the police, they are just pigs in this society! our PM needs to do something about them, things are realy getting out of order in our country and i hate it! its like i have to sleep with one eye open cause im afraid the police come and rob me and get away with it because they are the law.
POLICE and CRIMINALS are cut from the same cloth………….
I do not know this young man nor what he does but i do know it is not up to the cops to take the law into their own hands and beat anyone to an inch of their lives, this is what we are supposed to have courts for, to decide on the treatment of the arrested person and it is not a beating by cops or guards,the law is meant to handle all wrong doers.COPS AS WELL, when the law is handled in a police station, such behaviour usually goes on for a while untill people get it up to their necks and then anarchy breaks lose remember Rodney King. no matter how bad the crime, it is usually handled in a humane manner, we are not barbarians or at least we should act like human beings everyone included. All people should be of importance to each other and treat everyone in a dignified manner, no one is more important than the other. NO matter the crime or how horrific or what kind of person is arrested everyone should be treated with dignity.
some body needs to put a stop to big bad teul he think he da super cop he is very courropt and ingorant person even when he is notnon duty he likes to go and drink at the bars and when he gets nice he thing he is invincible i cant stand that …….