7 News Belize

Men Beaten Up In Police Sweep
posted (January 3, 2013)
Yesterday we told you about the brazen hold up that happened at the Belize Tourism Board. Shortly after that incident, police swarmed the entire area- as they were looking for the second suspect in the hold up. Today 3 men claimed that while all that was happening, a team of officers came to their worksite and began beating them for no apparent reason. Here's their story of police brutality.

Marlon Yorke, Claims Police Brutality
"This happen like around 4:30 but from yesterday morning we've been back there working digging out a trench for Mr. Young so he can build up a sea wall. We've been back there all day and as 4:30 came we got ready to clean up, eating the rest of our food, drinking our water and talking. We saw the CIB truck came on the other side and they turn back here not knowing that they came for us. As we were walking behind the curve there were so many BDF and police with guns who came up to us and told us to get down on the ground and put our hands up. We got down and I am the first one they search and they search everybody else. When I got up I saw a BDF flying over me. When they were finish we told them that we were working for Mr. Young and they and they wanted to know if anyone else was here - they did their search of the area."

"They just came back there and told us to get down, kick me in the back of my head and they told us to go back to work. They told me to hold it down and I say no because you just kick me in the back of my head, you see that we are innocent, I don't get any apology. They did came and ask me which one it was but I couldn't tell which one it was because I had my head down. When I look up all I saw was green - a BDF uniform. It's not like they were going to tell me which one did it anyway. I told them that I was going to the station. They told me that I am lucky they didn't shoot me. I told them that I am 39, I already lived my life and if you want to chance me then chance me."

"I walk this way to put up my tools and when I was going to the station and to see you guys to make the report that's when I see all the police and the same unit by the BTB board and when I went to the station that's when they told me that a robbery just happen right there and I'm like a robbery happen and I got beat up. I am working, what does that got to do with the robbery."

They have made a complaint to the internal affairs department.

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