The police have arrested one and are looking for another after a duo held up, kidnapped and robbed a man and a woman on Friday night. The drama unfolded sometime after eight in the community of Willows Bank. Twenty nine year old taxi driver Justo Lopez and a female passenger had just left the rural village in the Belize River Valley and was travelling on an off road when they came upon an obstruction in the middle of the roadway. According to the officer in charge of the Ladyville Police Sub Formation Inspector Calbert Flowers, as the unsuspecting motorist got out of his car he was jumped by two gunmen.
Insp. Calbert Flowers, Commander - Ladyville Police Station
“When he saw a barb wire fence across the road. Upon seeing the fence he stepped out of his vehicle to remove the fence when two male persons wearing masks and armed with guns approached him and ordered him to lie on the ground. He was then tied up with the barb wire and then placed in the trunk of the car. The two masked men then got into the car along with the female and drove somewhere towards the Rancho area. The male person however managed to free himself and also managed to open the trunk of the car and jumped out and he alerted the police.
As a result of the information the police has detained one person and we are looking for another person who we know can assist us with this investigation. A number of items were recovered including one sawed off sixteen gauge shotgun, a gold chain, gold ring and two cell phones reportedly stolen from the two victims.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Was this individual specifically targeted? I mean it sounds like they were waiting for him, they may have been familiar with him and they he was leaving Willows bank at this time?
Insp. Calbert Flowers,
“Yes, the accused who we have in custody is well known by the female. He is in fact related to the female, the in laws with the female.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
At this time do the police believe the female may be involved?
Insp. Calbert Flowers,
“No, we do not have any information to believe that the female.”
The man who police has in custody has been identified as nineteen year old Pedro Trochez. He has been charged with robbery, prohibited firearm, aggravated assault and kidnapping. And while Trochez is scheduled to be arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning, the police report that they continue to look for one Sherwin Roca.
