Tonight a female police officer and three men who were starting at her house in Orange Walk are on remand for a battery of charges - ranging from weapons trafficking to drug possession.
But, for Constable Stephanie Patten it's not the first time she's faced serious charges. Jules Vasquez looked at Patten's pattern of arrests:
This isn't the first time PC Stepahnie Patten has faced serious criminal charges.
In October of 2020 she was charged for trafficking 23 pounds of weed police found in a pickup she was driving - but then the strangest thing happened - a man who was not in the truck appeared to take the charges.
Indira Craig - Channel 7 News Anchor
"One man, Gorge Andlyn was also charged in connection with this crime, that's after he walked into the Orange Walk police station claiming that the drugs were his. Today he pleaded guilty to that charge while all 5 women found transporting the drugs plead not guilty. The charges against the five female defendants were thereafter dropped."
And, if one of the accused had his way - the charges in this latest, far more serious incident would also be dropped:
Dickie Bradley - Attorney of Stephanie Patten
"Thanks goodness somebody in court said it's me bring the thing, it's me know about them and that is not my client."
And maybe that's why PC Patten appeared so relaxed yesterday - she actually seemed to be chewing gum as she was placed inside the place mobile.
And her alleged accomplices in weapons trafficking didn't seem too stressed either. The Mexican, 21 year old Misael Contreras Varela was actually dancing when he came strutting out of the courthouse - and even blew someone a kiss - saying, in Spanish "tell them to look at this video" - while his alleged accomplices Alden Lara in the grey shirt and and Brandon Hall in the orange shirt - seemed to be arranging their affairs with the persons who accompanied them to court.
Curious behavior for persons accused of Illicit Trafficking of firearms, Kept Prohibited Ammunition, Kept Ammunition without a license, Possession of unregistered bullet proof vests and Drug trafficking.
The foursome was remanded but can apply for Supreme Court Bail as early as tomorrow. Patten is defended by Dickie Bradley and the other three men by Leeroy Banner.
