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When our colleagues contacted Martinez, he informed them that orders higher up were that a press release would be sent. It appeared that no one wanted to bite the bullet and face the tough questions of the press in relation to Hilberto Sotz's death. That's until we got a chance to speak with Assistant Police Commissioner Noel Leal, the officer commanding the Professional Standards Branch, which is known also as internal affairs. Here's how that conversation went with the lead investigator in this case:

ACP Noel Leal, Commander, Professional Standards Branch
"We are running a parallel investigation; a criminal investigation and an internal investigation. But the presence of the police on a whole generally is also to maintain law and order and to ensure the safety of everyone here on the island."

Daniel Ortiz
"Are you able to give us anything at this time in terms of your investigation? We understand that you have two officers detained pending investigation. Is that in deed confirmed?"

ACP Noel Leal
"Yes that is confirmed. We have two officers detained pending investigation. The preliminary work that we have done so far in addition to recording statements from witnesses and other officers and so, we also visited the morgue in Belize City this morning where we did an inspection of the body and that will be followed later by a post mortem this afternoon and I can tell you that we have more questions to ask. So we will be doing that during the course of the day and probably by tomorrow we will be aiming to make a conclusive determination as to what we will be doing next on regards to this investigation."

Daniel Ortiz
"Persons out here strongly suspect that this gentleman died in police custody and that unethical actions were taken against him that he was brutalized. Some have gone as far as to suggest that he was stifled and that the police try to cover it up by taking him to the health center and suggest to the doctor that he died there instead of at the police station. Are you able to address any of them?"

ACP Noel Leal
"I can tell you that we have recorded quite a few statements and we are doing all the necessary paper work, but a lot of what goes on next will depend on the post mortem this afternoon. So I would want to preempt the results of that. Definitely there are some very great questions to ask, but because we are mandated to this kind of investigation, we will be transparent and we will leave no stone unturned and whoever has to be dealt with will be dealt with and that is no question about it."

The official report from the police department starts by offering condolences to Sotz family for the death of their son, Hilberto. The release says, quote, "The Belize Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends...of Mr. Hilberto Sotz who was detained by the police in Caye Caulker and subsequently died unexpectedly. The Commissioner of Police...assure(s)...that an expeditious, thorough and transparent criminal, as well as internal investigation is presently underway and any evidence of wrong doing will be promptly dealt with. The outcome of those investigations will be made public at the earliest."

Now, as we told you, the officers say he died from a breathing problem. The officers at Caye Caulker who had custody of Sotz told their bosses, quote, "At around 11 a.m. on Monday…Sotz… was detained at Caye Caulker police station pending investigation into a series of burglaries. Sometime around 5:00pm, while being interviewed, he reportedly started complaining of chest pain and had difficulty breathing. He was rushed to the poly clinic for medical treatment where he passed away."

As we told you, the family and entire community do not believe that Hilberto Sotz died from some breathing problem. They suspect that he was brutalized and stifled to death inside the police station and then rushed to the Caye Caulker Clinic. The results of the post-mortem will confirm how he died.