And while we had the Opportunity, we asked the Deputy Commander from San Ignacio Police about that report from 19 year-old Elston Arnold who says that a police shot him in the back in Unitedville on Monday Morning, and left him for dead.
As we've reported Arnold has complained to police internal affairs that the officer who shot him with a shotgun did so without any reason because he wasn't resisting arrest or assaulting the officer in any way.
Today Inspector Reyes told us that police strongly suspect that one of 4 officers pulled the trigger, but they are using their knowledge as officers of the law to evade prosecution:
Inspector Reymundo Reyes - Deputy OC
"In respect to that case here a criminal investigation has been launched. Statements from the victim has been recorded as well as his companions who were along with him. Internal affairs has also come in and interviewed officers which we are also doing - statements and reports obtained from them. We are still in the process of doing a re-interview with the officers and then submit all the information that we have to the office of DPP for directives."
Daniel Ortiz
"At this time are these officers off duty? Will they be taken off duty or are they still serving while this inquiry from the police..."
Inspector Reymundo Reyes - Deputy OC
"They are still working. They have not been suspended nor interdicted. I am aware of the allegation being made and that is the reason why we are taking our time to properly investigate the case. We do not want to rush and then at the end of the day the community would believe that cover-up was done for the officers. The Investigation is being slowly in a slow pace and we are trying to do our best to get as much information that we have and getting the necessary evidence that we need in the event that somebody need to be persecuted at the end of the day."
Daniel Ortiz
"Have any of the officers admitted to discharging his or her weapon?"
Inspector Reymundo Reyes - Deputy OC
"Not at this point and that is the reason why we are taking our time to interview them one by one and see what kind of information we could obtain."
"As protocol, the weapon has been seized as exhibit, the pellets retrieve from the body of Mr. Arnold has been retrieve from the medical officer also as we will be sending that to the national forensic service to the firearms examiner for analysis."
Reports to 7News say that their obfuscation started when they did not even record the event in the police diary.
Elston Arnold continues to recover from those injuries at the Western Regional Hospital.
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