He's a customs officer who told police he needs a sawed off shotgun for his work, but police said that Emerth Flowers had modified a firearm without approval of the commissioner of police. The 48 year old was remanded to prison for two weeks in July of 2014, when he was first charged. Well today his case went to trial before Magistrate Corlon Mendoza and it was thrown out.
That's after his attorney Anthony Sylvestre, submitted that section 33 of the Firearms Act under which Flowers was charged does not apply to him -because he is a customs officer. Section 33 says that the act does not apply to any person in the naval, military, air or Volunteer Forces or in the Police Department, or in the Prison or Revenue Services of Belize carrying or using any firearm or ammunition in the performance of his duties. Magistrate Mendoza concurred and dismissed the charge.
Flowers, had cut 17 and a half inches off the barrel of his licensed shotgun. At the trial detective constable Edwin Reid testified that Flowers told him that the reason he altered the shotgun is because he is a customs officer and it made it easier to maneuver through the bushes while he is conducting customs operations.
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