Police seize weapons, make arrests

Despite the lack of arrests in the two stabbings, police did have some success in other areas.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Several police operations in Belize City over the weekend have resulted in arrests and the confiscation of firearms and ammunition. In one of the incidents Alfred Smith suffered injuries after he tried to get away from police.

Supt. Edward Broaster, Commander, Patrol Branch
“This individual was subsequently taken to the hospital after he received injuries. Attempting to flee he ran out of his car into one of our unmarked police patrol’s car door where he received injuries to his ribs and lip.”

Alfred Smith was inside the car police were trying to stop just after eleven on Sunday morning when they were fired upon on Cesar Ridge Road..

Supt. Edward Broaster
“As a result of that one nine millimetre glock pistol was recovered…six rounds of ammunition.”

Also arrested over the weekend was Brian Brown. Brown, no stranger to the police, also tried to getaway from another mobile police patrol when they intercepted him just after eight on Saturday morning.

Supt. Edward Broaster
“Subsequently Brain Brown alighted the vehicle and tried to make good his escaped but he was captured where he threw the firearm and you’ll see that the magazine for the firearm received damaged when it impacted on the premises where he threw the firearm.”

This A.K. 47 rifle including loaded magazines were found by C.I.B.’s major crimes team in an open lot after the police received a tip from members of the community. That working relationship is also being credited to the discovery of a nine millimetre pistol also found in an abandoned lot.

Supt. Aaron Guzman, Commander, C.I.B.
“There is also another nine millimetre pistol that someone was charged for which means that matter is before the court also. There is a third nine millimetre that was recovered by a major crimes team. I don’t want to comment much on that because we are doing an investigation where that firearm is concerned.

During the C.I.B. Operation, police took into custody Giovanni Lauriano and an unlicensed nine millimetre pistol.

Ag. Sr. Supt Chester Williams, Dep. Commander, Eastern Divison
“This fellow Lauriano is involved in crimes like theft from motor vehicles. From our intelligence he is one of the main persons behind these sorts of activities. We have others who are involved and we will be targeting them just as how he had been targeted and we will try to see how best we could get sufficient information, evidence to be able to put them behind bars where they belong.”

Ernel Welcome another known individual to the police is also in custody after he was stopped at the northern highway check point.

Ag. Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“I happen to be on the Northern Highway when I saw a black Dakota pickup moving at a very high speed in the same direction as I was going. I pursued the vehicle and called the Northern Highway check point and I informed them that I was in pursuit of the vehicle and to have the vehicle held at the check point.

“I saw my good friend, Ernel welcome, who was accompanied by two other male persons and a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of this firearm between the two seats. Welcome and the two other occupants of the vehicle were subsequently arrested and charged for kept unlicensed firearm and ammunition.”

Today the police credits hard work and improved community relations for the successful operations.

Ag. Sr. Supt Chester Williams, Dep. Commander, Eastern Divison
“This is good news to us. The more guns we get off the street the more safer our community will be so our effort as a department will continue.”

Ag. A.C.P. Allen Whylie, Commander, Eastern Division
“Once again to thank members of the public who continue to provide us with information which has led to some of the successes we have had.”