And while the police continue to work to repair the rift between the Orange Walk Community and The department, the Compol cleared up a few details surrounding the incident that claimed the life of 20 year old Jesus Sacul. What initiated the pursuit in the first place? The family claims that their loved ones were accused of being in possession of a firearm. Sacul's common law wife says that her husband was employed as a delivery boy, so why would he need a firearm? The Commissioner today confirmed that he did. Here's the full official account of the story:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Last night, sometime around 8pm thereabouts police responded to information of two persons on a motorcycle that according to the police had just exited the yard of a known drug dealer and when the police saw the two individuals on the motorcycle, according to the police, I was not there, they're saying that they say the pillion rider with what appears to be a firearm. The police pursued them with the lights and sirens on, indicating for them to stop and despite the police using lights and sirens and indicating to them to stop, they did not stop. The pursuit continued through Trial Farm and ended up in front of a gas station where, according to the police again, the motorcycle rider lost control of the motorcycle and collided into the fender of the police vehicle, falling to the ground. Both persons, the rider and the pillion rider were taken to the Orange Walk hospital, where they, I think the rider is the one who later succumbed to injuries received as a result of the accident. At this time we have dispatches members of the PSB and CIB to Orange Walk to investigate the matter properly."
Reporter:
"Can you confirm or deny whether or not any shots were fired during the pursuit?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"From what I'm told, no, no shots were fired."
Reporter:
"Was any firearm recovered?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The police did recover a firearm on the scene. They had said that prior to the accident, the pillion rider threw an object away and when they went and checked they found a firearm which is a, it looks like 9mm pistol according to them but it turned out to be a pellet gun."
Courtney Menzies:
"I guess the question is if the officers explained how the motorcycle was able to crash into the front of the vehicle if they were speeding away?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I still want to find that out likewise myself. So I've asked the investigators to see if there's any surveillance cameras in the area or witnesses in the area who would be able to shed more light on what really transpired."
The family also claims that the boys were intentionally run over by police. The compol says that while investigations are still ongoing he is unable to say whether that is true or not.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"This incident cannot be assessed like the first one. Again… when you are in that situation and you are being pursued by the police, police are in a marked police vehicle, they have their lights on, the siren on, the proper thing to do is to stop. Now, I'm not saying this to justify the police actions, if the police are wrong, I cannot say if they are wrong or right. I'd rather wait until the investigation is over. But just as a general information, when you are being pursued by the police, you know it's the police, just stop and see what the issues are. It makes life much easier for the both sides. It's a sad situation, I sympathize with the family of the young man who passed away because he was the son of someone, he was the brother of someone, and certainly they're going to grieve his loss."
