Yesterday morning, Belize City police rounded up over 5 dozen young men from across the city. Press Officer G. Michael Reid told us it's in connection with a number of robberies and violent crimes in the city. But last night relatives of the detained men called us to the Queen Street Station to say that the real violence is the random and arbitrary detention of their loved ones.
Natasha Lewis, Brother Detained
"I don't really know what went on. My little sister went into the house and told me they were taking my brother. So I ran out and police had my brother stringed up, his pants was way up here. I told the police my brother didn't do anything. He told me to move out of the way because I can't tell him how to do his job. He threw my brother in the back of the pickup like as if he was a dog. About seventy odd men are back there in the cell. They don't even want you to take food for your brother. They are just throwing in men. They don't even know who they are looking for, they are just taking them in. That is pure stupidness, that has to stop. Everyday, everyday they are harassing George Street man, everybody. That is pure simpleness. I am not saying my brother doesn't do wrong and thing but that is lone simpleness."
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
So why are you out here, I saw you were shouting just now?
Alice Bailey, Two Sons Detained
"Because I want them to let them go."
Jules Vasquez,
Has this happened to your children before?
Alice Bailey,
"Yes they are always picking them up; every minute."
According to Press Officer Reid, all 61 were released this morning.
