Two Belize Defense Force soldiers are at Force Headquarters in Ladyville tonight while the army investigates allegations that they were behaving drunk and disorderly in Belize City with their loaded M16s on Sunday night. Eyewitnesses tell us that the on duty soldiers had their loaded m16 rifles in their hands - cocked in some instances – and even chased two tourism police officers. All this occurred on Albert Street around 10 on Sunday night. The witnesses say the guns were pointed in their faces and the soldiers – again on duty and apparently drunk - threatened to shoot them. Giles Usher and Mark Pacheco saw it first hand and gave us their accounts off camera.
Giles Usher, Witness
“We noticed the two of them coming down the street and usually I see a PC along with them so that caught my attention. And so we saw them stagger down the street and after they passed, they were already looking at us hard when they passed.”
Mark Pacheco, Witness
“I said to one of the BDF that the gun is almost as big as them because you know they are short. They spun around and asked if we wanted to borrow their guns or if we want to feel some hot lead. And then after that I told my friends that I am not with that and that it is time for us to go from here. We got into the vehicle and the BDF went behind our vehicle, pointed their gun at our vehicle and everybody ran out of the vehicle.”
Giles Usher,
“When I looked in the rear view I saw two of them pointing the gun on my vehicle. The girls didn’t know what to do, they were frightened more than anything. I didn’t want to jump out because I thought that as I jumped out, they would shoot me so all I could do was lady down in my vehicle, in the seat and afterwards we decided for everyone, even Jose them, we decided to go upstairs of his house.”
Mark Pacheco,
“Two police on bikes were patrolling and they came and the BDF ran back cranking their guns and when the police saw that, they ran behind the vehicle where we were and then we ran back. Then after that the police called patrol and patrol came and talked to them and still left them to go with their loaded guns.”
Keith Swift,
I understand one of the soldiers pointed the M16 pretty close to you.
Mark Pacheco,
“A couple feet from me and a young gial was standing behind me and she ran, frightened. Their hand could have just tripped and gone on the trigger and it would be the end of we right there, easy as that.”
Keith Swift,
So two Tourism Police Officer responded and they ran?
Mark Pacheco,
“Yes when the two BDF turned back and started to crank their guns. They ran behind the vehicle too. I think that is totally wrong what they did. A police should be with the two BDF and no police was with them. I don’t see what kind of corruption that. They are supposed to be out here to protect we and no kind of sense they are messing with right now.”
The young men said they called police numerous times before a mobile responded. They also went to the Queen’s Street Police Station to file a complaint but instead of jail – the soldiers were taken to Price Barracks. Acting Commander of the BDF – Colonel Dario Tapia says he got the call about the incident on Sunday night. The men have submitted to alcohol and drug tests and they have been taken off the patrol schedule pending those results. The soldiers weren’t arrested by police because they were in uniforms and on duty. If they are convicted of using drugs or alcohol while on duty – the maximum penalty would be two years in jail.
