7 News Belize

Cayo Cops Killed Guate Carjacker On Calla Creek Road
posted (July 10, 2017)
The news of stolen Toyota Hiluxes is nothing new in the Cayo District - in fact, it is an all too common occurrence from Belmopan to San Ignacio. And 10 times out of 10, those stolen rides end up in Guatemala.

But this weekend, that almost happened again, but it didn't. That's after Cayo police chased two Guatemalan bandits in a stolen pick up truck through rural Cayo. The armed thieves were attempting to make it to Guatemala, when they lost control of their vehicle and crashed on the Calla Creek road. As the Guatemalans tried to escape on foot, a fire fight with police ensued, ending in the death of one of the bandits. Alex Courtenay went West to speak to the police and find out exactly what happened...

Alex Courtenay reporting
On Saturday afternoon, Edwin Jimenez was held up at gunpoint as he was travelling down the Chaa Creek Road, between San Ignacio and Benque Viejo del Carmen. He was forced out of his pickup truck by two bandits, who then attempted to escape through the Bullet Tree Road.

ACP Chester Williams, OC - Professional Standards Branch
"On Saturday afternoon one Edwin Jimenez was the driver of a black Toyota Hilux on Chaa Creek Road that is situated on the George Price Highway between San Ignacio and Benque Viejo. When he was held up by 2 armed bandits each brandishing short arms and the Hilux was subsequently stolen from him by the two bandits."

After being alerted to the robbery, police set up a checkpoint in Bullet Tree. However, the bandits drove straight past the roadblock, prompting the cops and Jimenez' family to engage in a high speed chase that ended in Calla Creek.

ACP Chester Williams
"The police then got into the vehicle of the relative who was in pursuit and they continued in pursuit of this vehicle. About 2 to 3 miles into the Bullet Road after you left police sub-precinct the vehicle ran into a fence and I believe that they may have lost control of the vehicle and the police in the pursuing vehicle also came to a stop."

After crashing, both bandits jumped out the stolen vehicle and attempted to escape on foot, heading towards a river just a few hundred feet away. As the police pursued them, one of the assailants began firing shots at the cops behind them.

ACP Chester Williams
"During the pursuit one of the bandits was firing shots at the police, this was Ervin Huix who is now deceased. Police responded by firing shots at the 2 bandits. Huix received one gunshot wound to the right chest region. The other person who was with him has been identified as Marlon Portillo, he received gunshot wounds to the groin area and the buttocks. Both men came to a stop right at the river bank. Apparently their intentions was to escape across the river but they did not make it."

Both bandits, who have been identified as Ervin Rene Huex Xiquen and Marlon Benedicto Portillo, Guatemalans from the border town, Melchor, received gunshot wounds. Xiquen, who was the one firing at the cops, fell into the river and succumbed to his injuries after the police pulled him out. Portillo, on the other hand, was taken into custody and is currently being questioned. Now, while San Ignacio Police are investigating the criminal aspect of the case, the Professional Standards Branch is determining whether or not the cops might have used unnecessary force to stop the bandits.

ACP Chester Williams
"The matter is being investigated by us looking at the internal aspect of it to see whether or not. The force used by the police was justified by law and the San Ignacio police are investigating the criminal aspect of it, dealing with the robbery of the vehicle. More than likely Mr. Portillo will be charged for kept an unlicensed fire ammunition in respect to the fire arm found in the vehicle as well as for robbery in respect to the Toyota Hilux. So the matter remains under investigation."

Portillo has been advised by his Belizean attorney, not to answer any of the police's questions.

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