And we also asked both Acting Police Commissioner Russell Blackett and Police Minister John Saldivar why exactly did police take so long to make a move and arrest William Mason.
As viewers are aware, Blackett said in Monday's police press conference that the cops had been looking at Mason for at least 2 months based on other informal reports and suspicions of kidnapping, and un-reported allegations of extortion.
But, if the police were as muscular and on point as they were when they blocked the media form the Belmopan and Belize City courthouses,
Mason would have already been in police custody, and Pastor Lue might not have lost his life. So, what do the police say about that? That's what we asked both the minister and the acting top cop:
Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"Do you understand the scepticisms of the public when the police department will say you know what we have been investigating this man a serious charge of kidnapping but we couldn't get into his area we had to wait till he came out? Then you have a picture emerging with the GSU head at this home."
Hon. John Saldivar - National Security Minister
"No I don't think that is what the police had said and I don't know if anybody explained it properly. What was explained to me by Mr. Blackett is that they preferred to apprehend him outside of home fearing that if they went to the gate which was at least two or three minutes to get to his home that we could have done whatever he needed to do in terms of hiding any evidence that maybe in his possession or in the home and so they didn't want to be sighted by him going into his property. So that everything that is there that would be evidence is preserved and I think it has turned out to be the right decision because now that they have been able to visit the premises without him having an opportunity to hide anything the evidence has been uncovered."
Daniel Ortiz
"But sir while it has worked out in that particular area someone lost his life because the police waited a while."
Hon. John Saldivar - National Security Minister
"I wouldn't want to put the death of this gentleman on the police that would be most unfair. We know that the gentleman had been working with Mr. Mason and whatever fallout they have I don't know if the police could have prevented that by any action. What had happened now we are able incarcerate him, we are able to get him jailed and we are going to prove our case against him."
Daniel Ortiz
"Some say that you all could have prevented the murder of Mr. LLewellyn Lucas."
Russell Blackett - Acting Commissioner of Police
"Some murders can be prevented and like I said the visit whoever officer or friends to that location is one thing. When we do certain investigation it’s on a need to know basis that we do that. Everybody knows our department is not privy to what we are doing. Like in any other family you have children who you can trust and those you cannot trust and we as the head must look at these things not because we actually have information or evidence that someone is involved with illegal persons; persons of criminal intend but that we must ensure. We have something that is posted in the department order every so often that you must not associate with persons of questionable character, criminal character and this is something we have to look at. We have our code of conduct our code of ethics and anybody who falls along the waste sides is solely on them. Not the ministry not the commissioner of police, solely on that person."
Mike Rudon - Channel 5 News
"There was unusual security presence, police presence at the court room throughout the arraignment procedure from Belmopan to Belize City. Could you explain why because it seem like the police were keeping the media deliberately away from viewing these alleged murders."
Russell Blackett - Acting Commissioner of Police
"No sir we did not know where the threat came from outside or within. If you look at the courts outside whenever people are being transferred to courts they even have on bulletproof vests because of course something you know they are being shot. You have to take all precautions understandably so. We have our tactical teams and this is the way we move prisoners who are high risk. We have the normal prisoners who might escape but once we have cases like these we deemed them to be high risk."
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