Arson in Progresso Village

Police are looking for three persons in connection with an arson that occurred in Progresso Village, Corozal. Shortly before twelve Tuesday night, a wooden home once owned by police constable Omar Zuniga, who works in the village, was burnt to the ground, allegedly as an act of retaliation by one of the three persons wanted. According to Zuniga, earlier that night, around eight p.m., he conducted a search on a resident of the village, Mariano Sedacy, who was in possession of a machete and when he attempted to retrieve it, Sedacy eluded him. Shortly after, Zuniga accompanied by another officer, Apolonio Reid, caught up with Sedacy and informed him that a summons would be issued for possession of the machete. Sedacy was furious and later that night; Reid saw him and two other persons throwing stones at his house. But the ordeal did not end there and around eleven-thirty, Zuniga’s wooden home was up in flames. The fire is being treated as a case of arson since the building had no electricity. Though it was unoccupied at the time of the fire, many persons including Sedacy believed that Zuniga still owned the building. However, in January, he sold it to Miguel Garcia. The house and contents were valued at twenty-five thousand dollars. It was not insured. Police are looking for the culprits.