A Belize City Bus Driver was viciously attacked with an ice-pick while doing one of his routine runs over the weekend. The incident played out in front of his passengers on Saturday evening around 5:30. According to Eldon Chiac, he stopped his bus in front of Social Security on Princess Margaret Drive to drop off some passengers – when a man identified to him as 26 year old Candelario Lemus entered his bus and attacked him with an ice pick. Chiac managed to escape from his bus while Lemus grabbed approximately $275.00 that was in a compartment inside the bus.
Lemus then got on his bicycle and rode away towards Coney Drive. It didn't end there because Chiac got into his bus and followed Lemus – while at the same time he called 911 for assistance. Candelario Lemus didn't reach too far when police intercepted him near Heritage Bank.
Today 7news caught up with the Belize City bus driver who gave us his story play by play. He asked to appear off camera for his own safety.
Voice of: Eldon Chiac - Belize City Bus Driver
"Well it happened on Saturday around 5:30 p.m., and as I mentioned before I stopped by the bus stop to pick up some passengers infront of Social Security. After all the passengers came in, I just saw a young man ran inside the bus, right beside me and he held me on my shoulder. He had a high stick on his right hand and then the man tried to stab me, attempted to stab me then I was trying to defend myself to prevent him from stabbing me. So, he finally stroke me with a stab but I managed to hold his hand. After I was holding his hand with my two hands, I was holding his right hand then his left hand was holding my shoulder. After that he just punched me with his left hand on my lip. So I didn't let his hand go because I didn't want him to stab me with the icepick. So, I finally managed to open the driver door and then I had to come out of the bus and I let his hand go. After that he exited the bus and he started running after me.
I ran around the bus and then the passengers told me 'run'. I just crossed the street when I started calling the police. So after I was on the other side of the street, I saw him run back into the bus. I went a little bit at the front to see what he was doing so I saw he was taking the money that I had by the dashboard. He then got on his bicycle and he rode towards Coney Drive. So, I set chase after him while I was on the line with the police. A little bit after that, I manage to catch him on Coney Drive in front of Channel 5. I stopped beside him, and he stopped as well. He got off his bicycle, and he stabbed the front and back wheels of the bus. He got on his bike again, and I set chase again behind him, and he went through a lane that comes out by Heritage Bank. When he exited that lane, and he met 3 police vehicles which were on that street. So, it was right there that they caught him, and they arrested him. The icepick that he used to stab was caught in the back wheel's tire. The police found it there, and they took it."
Candelario Lemus was charged with Robbery, Wounding, Aggravated Assault, and Damage to Property. Chiac and Lemus had no association with each other- but did know of one another since Chiac's ex-girlfriend is now Lemus' new girlfriend.
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