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Ambergris Cop Caught Red-Handed In Extortion Sting
posted (December 16, 2014)
On Friday, we told you about the cop who was caught red handed in an extortion sting. Well, Police Constable John Arana has been arrested and charged for extortion. Arana told a San Pedro businessman that he could fix a civil matter that was pending against him in court. Apparently the businessman had some unpaid grocery bills - and Arana allegedly said he could make it go away - for a fee. He asked for 1,200 dollars, and the businessman gave him seven hundred. But when he got the second payment, of five hundred dollars, the bills had been marked and photocopied and police were waiting to pick him up as soon as he had collected it at Mamacita's Bar on Friday morning.

Today, Deputy Commander for Eastern Division Edward Broaster, was asked about him at a press conference held today by Police. He couldn't give us any specifics on the corrupt cop, but he said that this should put police on notice that even though the Department cannot control their actions while their out in the field, they will be dealt with harshly:..

Sr. Supt. Edward Broaster, Deputy Commander, Eastern Division
"Police officers in a whole must be reminded of their mandatory duties and I know of a case where someone came and made a report that a police was extorting them and this was basically the police, bidding the business of the complainant against the defendant as pertains to damages to a business in a traffic accident. We placed that officer on charge for prejudice to good order and discipline. I am not talking about the case in San Pedro. I am talking about another case of which I was told that it may be similar to the one in San Pedro. For those officers who would be as you said, wanting to extort the members of the public, they will be dealt with very seriously. We have zero tolerance for those type of behaviors and in our daily briefings we been advising our officers to act professional and carry out their duties responsibly."

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