Dangriga robbery suspect arrested and charged

On Monday we reported that police were looking for a man who allegedly received money from two people to buy vehicles for them but never returned with the cars or cash. Today that man, twenty-eight year old Robert Villanueva of Calle al Mar in Belize City, appeared in Magistrates’ Court where he was charged with two counts of Obtaining Property by Deception. Villanueva was released on five thousand dollars bail and will reappear in court on February fourteenth.

Also arrested and charged today was nineteen year old Lawrence Bernardez of the Rivas Estate area of Dangriga. Police believe Bernardez is the man who attacked the driver of a butane gas truck on Monday, stabbing him with a knife and robbing him of close to a thousand dollars. Bernardez has been charged with Robbery, Wounding and Use of Deadly Means of Harm. Police are still looking for a second suspect who lured the driver into the ambush.