On July 9th, 8 year old Marquis Mahler was shot by a gunman as he stood in a yard on Faber's Road. The gunmen were presumably targeting the residents at that property and ended up shooting the child.
Well, today, police were the ones targeting that property as they descended on it with maximum force and minimum explanation.
In fact the family says there was no explanation - and that's why they called us outraged and terrified after they arrested Marquis's dad. 7 was on the scene and here's what happened:....
Monica Bodden Reporting
When we arrived at number 40 Faber's Road Extension this morning - Fully armed police officers and BDF soldiers - all with big guns - was conducting a raid on the entire premises.
What made it very disturbing for those living in that yard- is the fact that no one knew what was going on.
Delia Lewis, Victim
"I just hurried home because I got a call from one of my sister that police is at my house breaking up my house and beating up my husband and my son, so I came home to see what really is the commotion."
But from what we understand - this morning's raid was a result of a Young man - who police suspect may have been involved with Sunday night's shooting of 27 year old Rafael Caseres that happened in the Rio Grande Area behind Faber's Road Extension.
But that information was not confirmed - since police said they did not want to comment on it.
This young man's girlfriend lives at the back of the yard - and he is said to visit the area regularly. He was there today and was cuffed and taken away by police.
According to many witnesses - Theodore Mahler - father of 8 year old Marques Mahler - who was shot in that same yard - was kicked several times in the stomach - when he refused the officers from searching his house.
He too was cuffed and taken away. Here he is looking through the window of a police vehicle that was parked on the street side. His wife stood on the street - begging for answers…
Delia Lewis, Victim
"I ask them why are they taking my husband for. They said that because he had someone upstairs who they were searching for. I told them that I didn't know if the young man was wanted, how are we to know if the young man is wanted? They say that the young man was in the newspapers already. We didn't know if the young man was wanted by police."
The Mahler's house was ransacked by police …
Delia Lewis, Victim
"My sisters told me to go check my house to see if my house was ok, but when I got upstairs my house was ransacked. I ask them what they were looking for. They say that they were looking for guns. I don't have any guns in my house."
According to everyone they were even threatened for calling the media…
Delia Lewis, Victim
"They told my son that if my son calls the media they will break his jawbone. How can the police tell my son that? Do they know how my son reach here?"
And as they drove off - with Theodore Mahler and the suspect - For this family - they are outraged -at how the police behaved…
Delia Lewis, Victim
"What kind of law do we have in Belize? We don't have any law; we don't have any justice anymore. What do they want us to do? I haven't got over my baby and people out here don't know what I am going through. Now they are taking my husband, for what now?"
According to the family, Theodore Mahler was charged this afternoon with obstruction and fined one thousand dollars but the cashier was closed so he is still locked up....
