This morning a video went viral on social media showing a family in a dispute with police offers on South Street, Belize City. The altercation occurred during the wake of a 3 month old baby.
Did the police act unreasonably? Or was the family unlawfully blocking the street?
We spoke with the mother and police:
A night meant for mourning quickly turned traumatic for 25-year-old Elisha Kuylen, who says police officers forcefully confronted her and her family during a small wake held for her infant son.
According to Kuylen, family and friends had gathered quietly in the backyard of her home when officers arrived shortly before midnight. Her 3 month old son Damani passed away while doing a blood transfusion due to jaundice. His mother recollects more of what happened:
Elisha Kuylen, Mother of the Deceased
"So, last night, we had a mini-wake for the baby. We was not outside on the street. We had it in the backyard because I have a backyard. But the reason we were out here last night was because someone was leaving. So we were just making sure she got in the taxi safe because that's how we roll as friends. So after she left, we came back in and same time the police officers was coming. And they was like, "Unu get off of the street" But as they said that, we got inside. If you check on the video, because they were cursing, they were not being polite at all. They were cursing and so I said, "Let me start videoing because you guys can charge us for cursing, but we can't curse Unu." "But you're cursing us." That's what I said. And then I started to video. I was just like that inside and the door was closed."
"So he pulled, when he pulled open the door and I was explaining to him, he said he don't care about any baby and he just pulled me and that's when I end up over there because it was with force."
"So with the process of him trying to, he's manhandling me, trying to take me to the mobile. Then my family members are telling him he cannot take me because we have to bury my baby early in the morning."
Police have since acknowledged the incident and have expressed that once the formal report is made, they will investigate the officers connected to the matter:
Sr. Supt. Reymundo Reyes, OC Eastern Division
"This morning I saw the video recording, PSB has been directed to look into the matter so that matter will be investigated and reports will be given if the person comes to the police station and makes a complaint and then it will be dealt with."
"What people have to realize is we the police officers when we approach situations like this it is because we try to minimize incidents from happening when we have persons hanging around on the street sides or in front of a house they become a target to the situation so maybe how the police officer handled the situation was not that perfect or professional. But his intent was to have them in a safe area inside the premises to avoid them being a victim for shootings. We have seen it over and over that whenever people see gatherings and so forth that is what they take advantage of and shootings happen."
Kuylen says she plans to file a formal complaint and hopes accountability will follow. Jaleeza Roberts, 7 News.
