City Councillor’s road rage leads to gunfire

The Belize City Council is back in the headlines, but this time the story is not mass resignations or garbage negotiations. No, tonight Mayor Zenaida Moya must contend with the fact that in the early morning hours of today the city councillor responsible for traffic got involved in a minor vehicular accident, but instead of swapping insurance information, Dean Samuels allegedly pulled out his gun, threatened the other driver, and then fired the weapon twice. Samuels spent most of today in police custody and News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin was hot on his heels.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Six and a half hours after thirty-four year old city councillor Dean Samuels was taken into custody, he emerged from the Queen Street Police Station where he was charged with six offences: aggravated assault, threatening behaviour, discharging a firearm in public, possession of firearm while under the influence, driving without due care and attention and driving under the influence of alcohol above the prescribed limit.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Officer in charge of Eastern Division Chester Williams, Councillor Samuels was detained around three this morning following a complaint made by twenty-eight year old Reese Rudon, an employee of Belize Telemedia Limited. Both Samuels and Rudon were in front of the Putt Putt Bar when they started to argue. Police say Rudon reported that he was at the establishment when he noticed a Nissan Pathfinder reversing into his Mazda car.

Sr. Supt Chester Williams, Dep. O.C. Eastern Division
“And as a result of that a confrontation occurred between both of them during which Reese alleged that Mr. Samuels took out his firearm, pointed it at him and threatened him. Reese eventually came to the police station and logged a complaint and Samuels was brought in and detained and later on and charged.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“Were the police able to collect any evidence to support the claimant’s charges?”

Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“Yes, we discover tow expended nine millimetre shells from the crime scene. Mr. Samuels’ firearm is also with us, we retrieved that likewise.”

Investigators say Samuels then uttered the words “You No Know Who Me, You Could Dead Tonight”. Those words translate into aggravated assault with a firearm, a charge that meant a weekend stay in Hattieville prison.

Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“It is not a bailable offence. The magistrate’s hands are basically tied in giving bail for offence of such a nature. More than likely him or his attorney will have to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.”

Rudon declined comment to News Five but as our crew waited for Samuels to be arraigned Magistrate’s Court, it became clear that there was communication between both sides.

By the time Samuels was brought before Magistrate Dorothy Flowers he had changed his clothes and was in the company of his attorney Michael Peyrefitte. Minutes later, Rudon informed the judge that he was withdrawing the charges of aggravated assault and threatening behaviour.

Michael Peyrefitte, Samuel’s Attorney
“Of the six charges for which Mr. Samuels was charged, two of them directly arose out of a complaint made by Mr. Reese Rudon and Mr. Reese Rudon came to the court upon the arraignment and indicated to the court that he didn’t want to bring any charges against Mr. Samuels. He was charged with six different charges and those two that were related directly to Mr. Rudon were therefore dismissed by the magistrate.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“If those charges were not dropped, Mr. Samuels would have been remanded to Hattieville?”

Michael Peyrefitte
“That is correct. The aggravated assault with the firearm falls under Act #25 of 2003 which ties the magistrate’s hands and she would not have been able to grant bail to Mr. Samuels for that particular charge.”

“If somebody points a gun at me and aggravatedly assaults me and that’s the truth I don’t see why I would come to court and drop the charges. I mean clearly this individual felt that those charges were not justified.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“And you are not aware of any negotiations that went on between both parties to have Mr. Rudon drop the most serious charges?”

Michael Peyrefitte
“No, I am not aware of those. Those were never communicated to me if they were there. I’m not aware of those.”

“There was an indication to me that Mr. Rudon was not supportive of the type of charge that was brought against Mr. Samuels because that was not the type of information he gave to the police. So it’s questionable from the very outset why the police decided to charge him a charge.”

G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“What the police did was followed procedure. The charges were filed; there were charges filed of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm in public and threat of death which followed the statement made to the police by this individual. There was absolutely no trump up charges.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“So the charges were based on what Mr. Rudon told the police?”

G. Michael Reid
“And what the evidence showed.”

Michael Peyrefitte
“And the man just came here and told the court that that is not true and the operative word is accused. I can accuse you of anything right now but that’s not the point. We will have our day in court and then the justice system will just take its course.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“As the legal advisor to the Belize City Council, how do you see this affecting Mr. Samuels’ work that he does for the council? Will he be suspended for the time being?’

Michael Peyrefitte
“I am not aware of that Jackie. I don’t see how it could affect his work. I mean he is innocent until proven guilty and as long as he is just an accused person we have to treat him as the law says we have to treat him which is that he is an innocent person. So I think his work at the council will go on as per usual.”

Jacqueline Godwin
“Mr. Samuels, any word?’

Dean Samuels, Belize City Councillor
“Not right now. I will update you guys but right now I don’t really have no comment right now.”

For the remaining four charges, Councillor Samuels was offered bail of fifteen hundred dollars which he met. He is scheduled to reappear in court on September fifth.

Jacqueline Godwin for News Five.