There was a situation today at the Belize Zoo where police had to be called. We say “a situation” because police say it was a domestic dispute that got deadly when a gun was introduced. And while that’s the official story, incredibly a Belize Zoo official says nothing happened. Our information is that at 10:45 this morning the zoo’s financial manager was involved in a dispute with her boyfriend in her office at the zoo. It got heated and violent. Glass louvers were broken and her boyfriend allegedly pulled out his licensed gun. He then forcibly took her with him in his car, which is what led to overstated reports of a hostage situation. Police intervened and the situation was later defused at Mahogany Heights. But with all that, the zoo’s supervisor on duty Vladimar Miranda told us he doesn’t know what happened. In fact the only thing he seemed sure of was that the there was no incident at the zoo.
Vladimar Miranda, Supervisor – Belize Zoo
“I am very disappointed about what happened here because you guys pull in here and I don’t know what happened because nothing happened here at the zoo. Maybe it happened outside of the zoo but in here I didn’t see anything happen.”
Keith Swift,
Sir but we see broken louvers upstairs and we understand there was some sort of struggle and there was a gun involved.
Vladimar Miranda,
“As I just mentioned to you, I wasn’t around here and I don’t know what happened. If it happened with a couple on the road out there I don’t know.”
Keith Swift,
You can’t tell us if it involved your financial manager?
Vladimar Miranda,
“Nothing happened, she is okay.”
Keith Swift,
So why were police here?
Vladimar Miranda,
“Well I don’t know because it was on the news. I don’t know who called the news. Like how the police said, it was at Mahogany Heights, it was not here.”
Keith Swift,
So no altercation at the zoo upstairs in the office?
Vladimar Miranda,
“According to what I know, nothing.”
Despite Miranda’s denial, police confirmed to us that an incident did occur. Police Press Officer Clemente Palacio described it as domestic. He says statements were still being taken and that one man, was detained.
