It took five months for the police to act on it but a report made on November tenth has one well known customs officer behind bars tonight. This morning Floyd Robinson better known as Blondie was taken over to the Corozal Magistrate’s Court where he was arraigned on the charge of aggravated assault with a firearm. It allegedly happened at the home of Corozal resident Tidalia Riverol.
According to lead investigator Inspector James Moreira, river reported that a team of customs officers went to her residence to conduct a search. When she asked if they had any authority they did not produce any warrant but instead the woman told the cops Floyd Robinson pulled out his weapon and held it to her chest as the other officers proceeded with the search. Inspector Moreira told us that law enforcement officer or not and whether he was in the line of duty or not: holding a gun to someone’s chest is illegal.
Insp. James Moreira, Orange Walk Police
“Placing the firearm in somebody’s chest, that is abuse of authority because we have no authority to place the firearm on a person unless your life is threatened. So she came and she made a report to the police. We conducted an investigation into the matter which later led to the arrest of Mr. Robinson after consulting with the DPP, giving him the history of the report so he authorized us to proceed by placing charges.
There are ways that we deal with authorities like say the Customs or the Police or whosoever it may be. We usually conduct, I would say a thorough investigation into the matter first and then after getting everything together, consultation and so forth and then if there are any charges, we place charges.
Police and Customs have the authority to arrest whenever an offense or breach is done. If the officer does abuse his authority also, then that person has the right to make a complaint. Either it be a police officer, Customs officer, or any enforcer of the law because no one is above the law.”
Because it is an aggravated assault and a weapon is involved, Floyd Robinson was ordered to be remanded to the Hattieville Prison until May 19th. Police confirmed to 7NEWS that they have already started investigating yet another and similar report against Floyd Robinson. While the police say it is standard procedure for police personnel to accompany customs officers on such operations, on the day the search was conducted at the Riverol residence there was no police present.
