Police raid city residences with mixed results
The question of official searches also came into play this evening in Belize City, as Police/B.D.F. anti-drug, anti-firearm teams raided homes at various hot spots. The raids, which included dogs from the Canine Unit, started as early as five this morning and should continue into tonight as part of security forces’ efforts to combat the rise in violent crime. We were on hand for one of the searches, that was executed at the home of Carolyn Westby and her common law husband, Errol Hemmans, on Kraal Road. We got their views as well as the police perspective from A.C.P., Crispin Jeffries.
Crispin Jeffries, Assistant Commissioner of Police
“The police after seeing a number of violent crimes coming out of the south side of Belize City, have been doing a number of inquiries. And latest indications are that there is a group of persons connected with the Yarborough area and the St. Martin DePorres area who are believed to be behind a lot of the incidents. Since this morning, five o’clock this morning, we’ve been in this area and the St. Martin DePorres area searching for weapons we believe to be hidden in various places. For a period of time this morning we spent at the house owned by Elizabeth Longsworth who was the former head of the Citizens Development Committee and worked very close with me and the group of young persons in the area are very well known to me. However, the information coming out is that they do hide weapons in various abandoned houses. A bit of information we acted upon this evening brought us to this location. We approached the building and the officers informed the occupant that there is a need to search the upper floor, Mrs. Westby. Obviously when I got the call to come out here, I understand that she was making a lot of allegations. There is nothing to suggest that we wanted to go into her house but we did in fact conduct the search on the top floor because we have the authority to search without warrant, premises when we suspect firearms are therein. If Mrs Westby is upset then I assume that she is reading a lot of thing into what is happening here and I will find the time when I believe she has settled down, to try and speak to her. It is clear that she has a lot of anger in her right now because of—for what reasons, I don’t know.”
Marion Ali
“Police didn’t breach nay of her rights is what you are saying?”
Crispin Jeffries
“I am unable to say that the police breached any rights or anything because I am yet to inquire as to the details but what I have heard so far is that the police approached the premises and informed her that they are here to search the upper floor for firearms and she acted up and she came out and shouted and made a lot of noise and began to hurl insults and accusations. Earlier we showed you a number of items that we have recovered. We have recovered a large quantity of marijuana in two places: in the Mayflower area, we’ve recovered ammunition in the area of Darren Banks’ home, we’ve recovered bullet proof vests at Andre Trapp’s house which is across the street from this area.”
Marion Ali
“You said Darren Banks’ home?”
Crispin Jeffries
“Yes, in the area where Darren Banks lives. He has been arrested and charged.”
Errol Hemmans, Home Raided in Police Operation
“This door was locked. Me and my common-law wife, we were in the kitchen working and sudden one the whole crowd ah guys deh come eena wah ignorant way. They neva come eena wah nice way fi seh well good evening or tell us what’s up, they hear that drugs and ammunition is here so they have to check the house. This door, they rip this door fi nothing. This piece ah moulding dah weh mi deh yah weh secure the door. Afterwards I give them a walk through and so far they find nothing. Mr. Jeffries and they guys they have to stop their fool mein.”
Marion Ali
“They always come here like this?”
Errol Hemmans
“First time, the very first time as far as I know.”
Marion Ali
“Why did you all resist in the first instance?”
Errol Hemmans
“Because we noh use to no police come dah fi we house like dat, none ah them. They have to come the right way.”
Marion Ali
“Mr Jeffries is saying that the information police picked up is that drug peddlers in the area might be using the upper flats of your home to stash their drugs. It’s not necessarily targeting you and your common-law wife.”
Errol Hemmans
“Well, this is the reason why I take them upstairs. I give them wah walk through the second floor and the third flat and the find nothing so, false allegation again.”
Police also seized a scanner able to pick up the police frequency from the home of Darren Banks. During the raid they also recovered several pounds of marijuana and two bullet proof vests that resemble those worn by Police and Military personnel. The raid at the home of Westby and Hemmans yielded nothing.
