And while the cops are trying to solve that one, a group of lawmen from police and the BDF had to answer questions this weekend about the drowning death of 26-year-old Edwin Brian Isidro, a resident of Benque Viejo Town.
7News understands that at around 11 yesterday morning a joint law enforcement team was conducting foot patrols along the Mopan River, in an area that is known as a contraband hotspot. The patrol team's attention was drawn to 4 Hispanic men who were attempting to cross the river.
3 of the men removed their clothing as if to go swimming; the other person remained fully clothed. When they arrived on the other side of the river leading to Benque Viejo, one of the men spotted the lawmen and warned his companions. They ran back into the river, and one of the officers fired warning shots.
Other residents in the area suspected that the officer actually shot Isidro, but the best information to 7News suggests that the warning shots frightened him. Isidro ended up having a nasty fall in the river, and when he went under and he didn't resurface, the officers and civilians dove in to render aid.
Unfortunately, the rescuers couldn't find him, and about 40 minutes later, when Isidro's body finally resurfaced, he had already drowned.
Here's what the police lead public relations officer had to say when the topic came up a today's press briefing:
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Director of Communications, ComPol's Office
"Police are always vigilant in that area because it is known for [the location] where the contrabandists use to bring their products from neighboring Guatemala to Belize. It is somewhat about 10 minutes from the border with Guatemala, and a lot of people use that area also to go swimming. It's somewhere around the Belize Water Services plant, and the police were in that area sometime around 11:15 yesterday, when their attention was drawn to 4 young men who were swimming in that area. These men were coming out of the river, and when they saw the police officers they ran back into the river. Why they ran back only they can tell. They noticed that one person who was dressed in a white shirt and blue boxer underwear slipped off some rocks, and may have hit some part of his body. When the police realized that he was struggling, as if he couldn't swim, they jumped into the river along with other civilians who were out there. They made a lot of attempts to try and find this person because he disappeared underwater. All these attempts were fruitless until this person floated up on the other side of the river, where he was removed. They carefully examined his body, where they saw a scratch above his left eye, and that would be consistent with the fall. I know that the officers have been questioned because it is a complete patrol, a team, police and BDF personnel."
Reporter
"There were suggestions that supposedly, gunshots were fired by police, some warning shots, or at least 1 warning shot. Is there any accuracy to that, or was that part of the rumors?"
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood
"Well, I said initially, when the police arrived, these young men ran back to the river as if trying to elude officers. Yes, we have confirmed that the officer may have fired a warning shot in the air. And unfortunately, when he realized that this person was struggling to swim, these same officers had to relieve themselves of their equipment and try to save his life."
Sources tell 7News that the lawmen on that patrol have had to write statements to investigators to give their account of what happened.
