Tonight, 19-year-old Jaheem Anthony Lawrence, an unemployed resident of Neals Penn Road in Belize City, is at the Belize Central Prison. That's after he was arraigned today for burglarizing the grocery store of a Bangladeshi-Belizean businessman. The cops caught him in the act of trying to escape, and his attempt to flee, he broke his knee after jumping off the roof of the store he had allegedly just cleaned out!
The owner, Rajul Islam, told police that between Saturday night and Sunday morning someone broke into his business place, B Barcia Grocery Shop and stole an assortment of alcoholic beverages, sports drinks, snacks, cigarettes, grocery items, and cash to a total value of $1,405 dollars.
The cops got the call while the burglary was still in progress, and when Lawrence realized that he was going to be caught, he allegedly jumped off the roof of the building. He ended up breaking his right foot, and that injury allowed the cops to catch him and find some of the stolen items in his possession.
He was taken to the hospital, and shortly after that, charged for burglary. We'll get to his arraignment this afternoon, but first, here's what the cops had to say about the case this morning:
Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero - Deputy Head, NCIB
"Rajaul Islam, 44 years-old, reported that his store was broken into on Magazine Road between Saturday and Sunday, and several items were stolen from the store. During the night, on Saturday, police responded to a burglary, and they attempted to detain a male person who jumped off the building. And as a result, the male person received a broken leg. The person was identified as Janeem Lawrence, 19 years-old. He was detained and is presently at the KHMH receiving treatment for the broken leg. Several of the stolen items were recovered in that area which had been removed from the store."
Reporter
"Are you able to say anything about how he gained entry into the store, and how it is that police were able to respond so quickly to catch him while still there?"
Sr. Supt. Hilberto Romero
"He pried open a window on the second floor. Thereafter, he pried open a door that was downstairs. Police received a call that there was a burglary in progress, and they responded. He was found, and that is when he attempted to escape and was apprehended."
Lawrence was escorted to the Magistrate's Court today with a cast on his right leg. He was arraigned before Magistrate Khadeen Palmer on the single charge of burglary. He told the Magistrate that he was innocent, and he also claimed that police removed him from his home and took him to the scene. He didn't explain the broken leg part, though. He pled not guilty, and he was granted bail in the sum of $3,500. Because he couldn't meet bail today, he was sent to the Belize Central Prison, where he will remain until he is able to do so.
