Victim, witnesses say cop shot man for no reason

There was a time many, many years ago that accusations of police brutality were so rare as to actually be newsworthy. Today, to qualify for airtime an alleged victim needs to be shot by a cop, preferably in front of multiple witnesses. And that’s exactly what happened this morning in Roaring Creek. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has the story.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Tonight, twenty-two year old construction worker Reginald Ruiz is admitted to ward at the Western Regional Hospital recuperating from a gunshot wound to the left thigh. Ruiz claims he was deliberately injured by a police officer.

The incident took place around nine this morning at Ruiz?s home at number ninety one Neal Street in Roaring Creek. Officers from Belmopan?s Special Branch and Criminal Investigation Branch went to the residence to conduct a routine raid for drugs and weapons. Both sides agree that only Corporal Paulino Reyes, commanding officer of the Belmopan Criminal Investigation Branch entered the home and ordered the six men inside to stand and be searched. But Ruiz claims that after Corporal Reyes found a pocket knife in his pants, the officer pulled out his nine millimetre handgun and shot him at point blank range.

Reginald Ruiz, Shooting Victim
?I had a knife but he tek out the knife, and he dash it pan my bed. Me no do nothing. I neva mek no kind ah move. My hand deh pan my head. Nobody no mek no movement then he just tun me round tell me he no like me fram time, then he just put the gun dah my leg and shot me … this da whe the gun shot gawn through.?

Inspector Santiago Ciau, Deputy Commanding Officer, Bmp. Police
?That was in self defence.?

But the Belmopan high command dispute Ruiz?s version of events. Deputy Commanding Officer Inspector Santiago Ciau says the Roaring Creek resident was shot because he threatened the officer with a knife.

Santiago Ciau
?I would like to tell the community that the incident was a matter of self defence. The person involved, the victim had reacted on the instructions of the police at the time of the house search. All we ask is that whenever the police approach anyone in regard to house search that they must cooperate with the police and do not throw unremarkable remarks or be reluctant as to what instructions the police give at the time of the operation.?

But the victim?s story is bolstered by the testimony of his five friends that were in the room during the shooting.

Phillip Gladden, Victim?s Friend
?This man shot this man fu nothing front ah all ah we you know.?

Phillip Gladden says Corporal Reyes simply wanted to hurt Ruiz.

Phillip Gladden
?This person just hate the man, this police yah watch ah, I tell yu. Deh bway deh just the dead fu life you know. I wah say it straight up too cause the man shot the man fu nothing, front ah all ah we … bway, hmmph.?

Janelle Chanona
?Why would the officer not like you, what?s the problem??

Reginald Ruiz
?I no know what dah da eh problem. Me and he no got nothing. I know the man lang time and he know me lang time. I no know what dah eh problem.?

Janelle Chanona
?Corporal Reyes was the only one inside at the time of the incident, is that normal procedure??

Santiago Ciau
?It is not a normal procedure but what happened, it is my belief that the corporal himself did not know that he would have met six persons at that time when he entered the house. But it?s a not a protocol and we are looking at it because we need to look at the safety of the officers when they go on operation.?

Because of the shooting, the raid was never conducted at Ruiz?s home but police say they do plan to return to the residence. Tonight Ruiz is under police guard pending charges of aggravated assault and obstruction. The victim says he plans to file some charges of his own.

Reginald Ruiz
?I no like it. I wah file wah report gainst ah. I wah sue he, I no wah do nothing but sue he. He do me this innocently, da like I meh deh do anything out ah the way. They know whe I live if he wah me they know whe fu find me.?

Janelle Chanona
?This upsets you no??

Reginald Ruiz
?Lot. I really no like it mein.?

And he isn?t the only one complaining. Eugene Neal lives in a room below Ruiz?s house. When the bullet exited Ruiz?s leg, it travelled through the floorboards and almost hit Neal who was asleep in his bed.

Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.