Click here to print
Rage and Riot in Succotz!
Tue, August 19, 2014
Tonight the village of Succotz in Western Belize is going back to normal after a day of civil disobedience. Succotz was the home of 54 year old Yolanda Consuelo Valencia - the market vendor who was killed on Saturday morning at 5:30 when Deputy Commissioner Mike Segura crashed into the taxi she was in - killing the mother of five instantly.

The fact that Segura - who is from nearby Benque Viejo was driving drunk -incensed the villagers - and when they saw that police didn't charge him fast enough - they took direct action - and this morning at around 7 a.m. that meant setting tires on fire, and blocking the Benque Road.

Traffic was blocked for at least a mile on both sides for over 7 and a half hours. It caused major business disruption because Benque Viejo leads to the busy Western Border crossing.

7News has been following the story from early this morning - until late this evening when Segura was arraigned in Belmopan Magistrate's Court. Our team got back an hour ago - and they've stitched together the most dramatic images - we'll just go ahead with those now while Daniel Ortiz provides a loose commentary of all the action:

Daniel Ortiz reporting
When we arrived at the Benque Succotz junction there as a road block and it was on fire police was trying to get it under control.

Resident of Succotz
"We want peace, we don't want more blood here sir."

Aaron Guzman, OC Western Police Region
"I hope that you explain to the people there that lighting the fire and throwing stones at the fire truck that is not peace."

Resident of Succotz
"I already told them to stop and they have stop it."

Police sympathized with them, but they were taking the wrong route.

Dindsdale Thompson, OC San Ignacio Police
"You find that they are coming out to support their love ones, their family in relating to the death of their love one. However at the present moment what we do though, we do have them blocking the street and putting tires of fires and other trees as well on fire and so it is hindering the free flow of traffic and that's what we are communicating along with the family to ask them to let the traffic continue to flow free. The matter of Mr. Segura, the charges has already been typed out, ready to move on into the magistrate court and so that's what we have just told the family member, the mom, so that he will then be taken to the San Ignacio magistrate court where he will be arraigned for the charges that are at hand."

Aaron Guzman, OC Western Police Region
"He was I can say to you above the legally prescribed limit. What will happen now is Mr. Arzu has prepared those charges for the blood alcohol content."

Daniel Arzu, OC Benque Police
"I as the lead investigator here, I am showing impartiality, I am doing my job to the best of my ability, I do not see anybody in this but the wrong doing okay. So the situation here is that I have prepared my charges, I have served Mr. Segura with 5 copies of traffic related offences ranging from manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, negligent grievous harm, driving without due care and attention and driving with alcohol concentration. Now you all need to work with me because I need to have Mr. Segura arraigned here this morning and we need to access the road so that we can reach to the court room. Thank you."

Resident of Succotz
"Can we see the paper?"

Daniel Arzu, OC Benque Police
"I have attached here; the charges are here and it is signed by a Justice of the Peace."

(Crowd chanting)

Daniel Arzu, OC Benque Police
"This is an original signature and this is manslaughter by negligence and the rest as follows."

Resident of Succotz
"We need a copy of that paper."

Daniel Arzu, OC Benque Police
"You will never have that, you are not charged; you are not a criminal."

(Crowd chanting)

Daniel Arzu, OC Benque Police
"We need to access so we can take this man to court. If the road is not accessible, we cannot have him arraigned, so now everything remains with you all."

(Crowd chanting)

Throughout the entire situation on the ground the commander showed great restraint, but at the end the level of their tolerance ran out and they had to get the situation under control. They decided to move in and clear the street."

Close this window