Six weeks ago, a young man named Thyrell Hyde came to us complaining that police robbed him, and then took him to the ATM to clean out his account. His story was compelling, but he asked us to stand down on it because he wanted to make the internal affairs process work without the prejudice of public exposure. So he complained to police and the ombudsman, but got no assistance. So today he came back to media with disturbing proof that what he said is true. Here's how he explained it to Daniel Ortiz.:..
Thyrell Hyde, Claims Police Robbed Him
"They said that they were going to search the car and us and so they told the 2 females to go at the back of the car while they search the 2 males; myself and my friend. They searched us, I had $70 in my pocket and they took that. My friend likewise they took out the stuff from his pocket and while they were searching us two other officers were searching the car. One search on the driver's side and the other on the passenger's side. While they were conducting their search the officer that was searching on the passenger's side was a Hispanic/Maya decent in uniform ask me to open the glove compartment because it was lock with the key and so I open the glove compartment and he took out a manila envelope that I had in there. That envelope contained $3,500 that I had on me with the intent to go and print for Expo because I make the board game "The Tourist Belize" and so we had to print it. My mother and I were in Belize from Friday looking for the cheapest place to go and print."
"The officer took out that envelope and the other officer; he decided to go and search the trunk and had asked me to supervise. I had my bag in the back with my clothes and so they search through all of that. When they finish their search they told my friend and I that they were going to take us to the police station. They told the 2 female friends to go and if they stayed that means that they wanted to go to the police station also."
"I ask the officers why are they taking us to the police station. I told him that you all didn't find anything illegal and you all didn't find us doing anything illegal. One of the officers told me that I can help myself. I looked at him and ask him "what do you mean" and he says that $70 cant split amongst all of us. All along I was under the impression that this was a legitimate search and now I realize that it is money that they wanted. I told the officer that he already took my money and he told me that 'police don't take anything from anybody, you forget you gave it to us.' One of the officers says that they have an ATM card here and they ask who was Thyrell Hyde and I answered me. The same officer suggests to the other officers that they should take me to the ATM."
"He ordered the 2 officers who were searching my car to take me to the ATM. They took me to the Atlantic Bank on Freetown Road and whilst there they told me to exit the vehicle and they took me inside the ATM. The officer in plain clothes (Creole decent), he went to the machine and input the card and did a balance inquiry and they he took out $260.00 from the account. After they had gotten the money we exited the ATM."
According to Hyde, shortly afterwards, the officers released him, and threatened to arrest him if they ever saw him again. He told us that since that incident, he has taken this footage, which the office of the Ombudsman helped him to get from Atlantic Bank, and even with this evidence, the internal investigation has not progressed.
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