4 cops in detention for shooting a youth in Unitedville

Elston Arnold

There is a development tonight in respect of a shooting in Unitedville, Cayo District in which a young man was injured when he was shot by police officers on patrol. Four police officers attached to the San Ignacio Police are in custody and at least one of them is expected to be formally arraigned on Thursday for the shooting of nineteen year old Elston Arnold. The shooting happened around one a.m. on May twenty-sixth as Arnold and four of his cousins were heading home from a wake in Ontario village.  Arnold was shot once to the back by a police issued pump twelve shotgun as he and his cousins approached the bus stop in the village. It’s not known what triggered the shooting, but one of the officer under the command of Corporal Ricky Valencia, pulled the trigger. An internal and a criminal investigation have been conducted and an ID parade was held late this evening. News Five spoke via phone to Deputy Officer Commanding the San Ignacio Police earlier today on the investigation.

Via Phone: Insp. Reymundo Reyes, Deputy O.C., San Ignacio Police Formation

“At this moment, the officers are in custody as we are about to conduct what we know as an identification parade. Because of the incident that night, directives have been given that all officers be placed on an ID parade so as to challenge the credibility of the witnesses to see whether they recognized the persons they had contact with that night.”

Duane Moody

“Now sir, people are of the opinion that the investigation has been slow due to the fact that the police is investigating some of its own. Can you talk to us about how that investigation is going and are these officers being treated special?”

Via Phone: Insp. Reymundo Reyes

“As I mentioned in my previous interview, such actions will not be condoned here in San Ignacio. What we have been doing is that we are conducting a proper investigation because we don’t want that at the end of the day; the public would see it or say that cover up was done with the officers. It takes a process; there were obstacles in our way, we were able to cross them and that is the reason that we are at this stage now; that we have them and we are doing the identification parade then we will just have to further wait for directives from the D.P.P. which I think will be given immediately.”

Reymundo Reyes

Duane Moody

“We know of course that at least one of the four officers detained had to pull the trigger on the police issued shotgun that was used in this incident. Now, what possible charge can come against this officer and what would be the next step thereafter?”

Via Phone: Insp. Reymundo Reyes

“At this moment, the medical officer certified the gentleman’s injury as wounding so that would be one of the charges that would be given to that person and maybe the other charge would be that of use of deadly means of harm.”

Duane Moody

“So by when could we expect that one of these officers be charged, sir?”

Via Phone: Insp. Reymundo Reyes

“I’m trying to push my identification parade for this evening so that by tomorrow morning we can say that yes these are the person to be charged or processed and taken in front of the magistrate. And thereafter, we understand that they would be, whosoever is guilty, then they will be charged disciplinary and interdicted from duty.”

Three of the officers who were on the patrol are expected to face disciplinary action from the department.