Earlier today, a cell phone video caught the moment when a prisoner escaped from police custody. He jumped out of the back of the vehicle while it was parked at the Corozal Community Hospital. Immediately, an officer began chasing him, but tripped over a drain, and fell down - flat on his face, causing the escapee to get away.
But while a criminal is now on the loose, the wider public has zeroed in on the officer's fall, calling him unfit for duty when the man just really didn't bound across a drain. This afternoon, the ComPol defended his officer, saying that he was doing his duty, and it's unfortunate that the public is laughing at him.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I don't know how that became headlines. Like, I saw almost all the media houses posting this video, making news out of somebody's misfortune. I don't know. But it goes to show the type of society we have become, people making fun of the police. Obviously the police was doing his job, he made an effort to pursue the suspect and in the process there was a drain, apparently he was not looking where he was running, and he tripped. It could happen to anybody,
including, I have seen professional runners, people on track and field tripping and falling. Why you make a big deal because the police fell while pursuing a suspect? The young man in question had gone to court on burglary charges and I guess he was playing possum to the magistrate that he was not feeling well and the magistrate ordered the police to take him to the hospital and as he got to the hospital, you saw what happened. He used that opportunity to escape so obviously there was nothing wrong with him so he just wanted to find a way to escape from the police. At this time, the police in Corozal are still in search of that individual and we're hoping that he will be found very shortly."
"It has nothing to do with not being fit, I have seen Usain Bolt fall while running. I'm sure, Isani, you have fallen before, does that mean you need to go to the gym? Come on."
