7 News Belize

Why did Police Fire In Hospital/School Zone
posted (October 29, 2012)
So, what happened to the third man who police detained from that robbery? Well, police say that he is 30 year-old Gregory Bowen. He was only a suspect who was detained for questioning but according to police, because of his actions he is now facing an attempted murder charge.

Police Press Officer, Raphael Martinez, told the media more about how Bowen shoved the police officer from the back of a moving police mobile.

Raphael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"Marcelino Sam, 29 years old police officer attached to the Caribbean Shores sub division/Eastern division Belize City reported that on Friday 26th October at around 1:50 pm he was on mobile patrol. He responded to a robbery report during which he detained one Gregory Bowen, 30 years old laborer or Croton Lane Belie City. As a result Gregory and his bicycle were placed in the pan of the mobile patrol. Sam also sat in the pan of the mobile patrol and whilst they were traveling around the corner of Princess Margaret Drive and Coney Drive, Gregory Bowen reportedly pushed the bicycle with both hands hitting Marcelino Sam on the feet causing him to lose his balance and fall off the vehicle. As a result Sam received abrasions to both elbows, knees and the back of his head. Sam was rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital where he is listed in a critical but stable condition. Police have since detained Gregory Bowen, 30 years old of Belize City for this incident."

And, what about those shots which were allegedly fired by police after Bowen to detain him? As we told you in our Friday newscast, we received multiple reports that shots were fired by the police near the patrons of D's Dinner, Belize Elementary School, Belize High School and Nazarene High jeopardizing and terrorizing hundreds of school-children.

The media questioned the Police Press Officer about those reports, and here's how he responded:

Raphael Martinez - Police Press Officer
"When it was told although it was not in the report that shots were fired by the guys who were actually running away from the police shots were fired and those are the only shots that I was told but again I was not on the scene."

Today, Gregory Bowen was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith for the charges of attempted murder, dangerous harm, and damage to property for the police issued equipment that Officer Sam had on him when he fell from the moving vehicle.

Due to the nature of the offences, no plea was taken from Bowen, and he was remanded to prison until November 29, his next court date.

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