Last night we told you about the tense, armed standoff at the Benque Viejo police station between BDF soldiers and Police which happened yesterday morning. The dispute was over a shipment of contraband that was intercepted by a BDF patrol. The BDF was taking it to customs but police demanded that they hand it over into their custody.
After being stopped by police at the Succotz ferry, the soldier in charge of the operation Lieutenant Eric Neal went to discuss the matter with Inspector Mai, the officer commanding in Benque Viejo.
Police threatened Neal with the charge of interfering in a police investigation if he did not hand over the items - which consisted of about three thousand dollars in car parts.
That's when police disposed of the niceties and physically took hold of the contraband - and a senior police officer reportedly shoved Neal in the process. That resulted in a tense standoff.
Our reports say that a BDF patrol assigned to the Barrio Juda area on the border went to the police station and encircled the compound with arms on the ready.
That report has been related to us by multiple independent sources but it is consistently denied by police and the BDF at the official level. But while the officer in charge of Benque Police told us that there was no misunderstanding - the BDF at least acknowledges that there was one, while it shies away from discussing a confrontation.
Here's what Colonel Ganney Dortch who handles the BDF's public relations had to say today.
Col. Ganney Dortch
"They were on their way to deliver these goods to the customs department. While doing so, they were intercepted by the police who then took control of the situation and said that it was a police matter but our instruction to the officer in charge of that patrol was that those items were to be carried to the customs department unfortunately there was some misunderstanding between the police officer on the scene and our officer, the BDF officer on the scene. And as a result of that the police took possession of the items took it to the police station after which a follow up approach was done form Cayo where a Captain was sent to intervene in the matter to make sure that these items were handed over to the proper authority. the police remained that they were the one in charge and it was a police matter and they were supposed to be handling those goods. To our demise, ahm, it did not work out the way in which we envisioned or the procedures`that have been taught to our soldiers while dealing with uncustomed goods. That all items oir all confiscated items are to be turned over to the customs department."
Jules Vasquez
"Sir, but our understanding form multiple sources independent sources is that it was not just a misunderstanding, it was in fact a standoff where arms were drawn, force to force, man to man."
Col. Ganney Dortch
"Well, as far as I am concerned, information reaching our headquarters is that there was only a misunderstanding we are presently investigating the matter, we are looking at all avenues as to what might have gone wrong and we are ensuring that we have top level police officers investigate the matter and we are presently meeting with commissioner of police to address the matter."
Jules Vasquez
"Lieutenant Eric Neal, my reports say, was pushed by the superintendent in charge of the Special Patrol Unit. He was pushed in his chest when he wouldn't let off on the contraband items., What is your understanding of that exchange?"
Col. Ganney Dortch
"Well,.as far as I am concerned as i said before. All uncustomed items were taken away from the patrol."
And while that's what the BDF had to say this afternoon, when we tried to speak to the Commissioner Of Police this morning, the usually accessible Mr. Jeffries didn't want to discuss this incident or anything else apparently.
Jim McFadzean
"Do you have any comment on that standoff between the BDF and Police?"
Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
"No Sir..."
Jim McFadzean
"No comment on that standoff yesterday? Would you at least confirm that it happened""
Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
"`I am very much offended by this attitude of the media to sneak these opportunities. You did not even consult me prior to this, you just come and stick a camera and a microphone in my face. It is not professional this is not the way we operate. Thankyou."
Jim McFadzean
"This is my job sir, and I believe that you owe the public..."
Crispin Jeffries, Commissioner of Police
"I am doing my job too, but you don't do this in the middle of a ceremony, come and stick a camera and a microphone in my face. I am more professional than that and I can be spoken to. Thankyou.
Jim McFadzean
"The ceremony is over sir...So no comment on that...?
(Jeffries walks off)
And while Jeffries had nothing to say to us today, he glibly and gladly gave interviews to competing media. In view of his past hostility towards 7news - going so far as to once arrest and lock up a camera man, and making plentiful other assaults on our cameras and news teams over the years - this little cut-eye business is the least of slights. And considering his department's current public relations meltdown - it is another predictably counter-intuitive maneuver - but beyond that, we welcome it as a re-engagement of hostilities.
