Here at 7NEWS we call it: 'going for the cycle.' Borrowed from baseball, in news-speak, it's when someone commits 4 serious offences in one. And that's what Police Inspector, Cardinal Smith is accused of doing on Sunday Night in front of the show grounds on the Hummingbird highway when he allegedly knocked down and killed a bicycle rider, fled the scene, and then came back, appearing to eyewitnesses to be visibly intoxicated.
As the man in charge of the major crimes desk at headquarters in Belmopan, the offences offer a withering introduction to police week. Today he was taken to Belmopan Magistrate's Court and charged for manslaughter by negligence, causing death by careless conduct, driving while intoxicated, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and failure to render aid.
Today in Roaring Creek, we spoke to Egbert Poper, who saw Smith racing away from the scene.
Egbert Poper, Witness
"I was working on a trip from Belmopan to Roaring Creek and while travelling the highway at speed bump I recognized a Toyota Landcruiser coming towards me and so I had swerve away and when I slowed down it had...
Jules Vasquez,
It was in your way and he was entering your lane?
Egbert Popper,
"He was entering my lane and I swerved away from him and slowed down, he had to slow down too because he hit the speed bump. I saw the radiator was smoking with a lot of smoke coming out of it and it had a broken headlight and all the front was dent up. So I didn't pay it no mind and I drove a little, about 600 yards away, and I recognized some people bawling out for help that they had a hit and run guy here on the ground. Right away I turned around and tried to catch the vehicle but the vehicle just run off into an off-road so I couldn't catch he vehicle. I returned to the scene afterwards and I stayed for a while and when I looked the Prado showed up with a police officer in it. He said 'see I am here, I didn't have to run away because if I had run no one would caught me or nothing like that. So see I show up here I am not running away.' Only that I know."
Jules Vasquez,
How did the officer appear to you when he came up?
Egbert Poper,
"He looked kind of high like he was on something. I don't know."
Jules Vasquez,
So it appeared that he was drunk?
Egbert Poper,
"Yes something like that."
Jules Vasquez,
And he was speaking in a boastful manner? He was saying that he didn't have to come back?
Egbert Poper,
"Yes he was saying he didn't have to come back because nobody didn't see him."
Jules Vasquez,
[Addressing ASP Simeon Alvarez] Inspector Martinez has been implicated as the one was driving the vehicle; he was assigned the gold Prado at the time. Has a blood-alcohol sample been taken from him?
ASP Simeon Alvarez, Officer in Charge - Belmopan Police
"Yes. I personally took him to the Belmopan Regional hospital where blood and urine was extracted from him and tomorrow I will take that to the chemist in Belize City, the government lab, for examination."
Jules Vasquez,
So per se no blood alcohol or urine has been performed. But yet I know this afternoon in court he was charged for driving under the influence of alcohol?
ASP Simeon Alvarez,
"Yes that's the protocol. If the result comes back negative then that charge, the alcohol charge, will be withdrawn from him."
Jules Vasquez,
Mr. Alvarez you took him to court personally this afternoon. Was it embarrassing for you to take a man who has appeared for you and is almost one rank under you and you have served with? Was it an embarrassment to take him to the Magistrate's court this afternoon?
ASP Simeon Alvarez,
"Well I wouldn't say embarrassed. But I did feel uncomfortable taking him to court. But in cases like this he has to be treated just like any normal person. Regardless of him being a police officer it is alleged that he committed the offense so we just have to deal with him."
Jules Vasquez,
But he wasn't treated like any normal person because I have seen Clifford Hyde on Friday and he was walked over. Inspector Smith was taken over in a vehicle and taken in without handcuffs. So in fact he was given special treatment because, I presume, he is a police officer. Would you agree with this?
ASP Simeon Alvarez,
"Well there are certain reasons why I personally took him via transport to Magistrate's court. The reaction last night with the family, it wasn't too healthy. So to avoid any complication or situation with him or them out there I decided to take him personally to Magistrate's court. I don't see anything wrong with that."
Jules Vasquez,
Some people will have the apprehension that he will get special treatment and the case won't be investigated vigorously because you all will protect one of your own. What would you say to somebody expressing a reservation like this? What you tell them to allay their fears?
ASP Simeon Alvarez,
"In this case I do sympathize with the family. Regardless of Mr. Smith being a police officer, as long as the witnesses come forward the case will be investigated thoroughly just as any normal person. I take no sides for no one. It could be me tomorrow and a senior officer will have to deal with me. So I take no chance. I am not here to take cover for anyone."
Inspector Smith made bail of $5,000.