Allegations of Assault Arise as Men Are Detained for Loitering

Police patrols had stepped up this past weekend.  So much so that they were detaining persons for loitering.  Four young men, however, are saying that not only were they detained but they were also assaulted.  23-year-old, Shemar Kelly of Mayflower Street; 26-year-old, Leon Shane Vernon of Lakeview Street; 19-year-old, Dexter Belisle of McFadzean Street (Belmopan), and 20-year-old, Leonard Castro of Lakeview Street all appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for loitering.  Kelly, Vernon and Belisle all pleaded guilty, and were granted bail of two hundred dollars with an adjournment date of October 25.  Castro, who appeared before a different magistrate, had the charge dismissed after giving the court his side of the story.  The three men made statements to court reporter, Anita Nembhard, saying they were assaulted by Police, and that they will make an official complaint.

It is to be noted that Leon Shane Vernon was given two additional charges, one for resisting arrest, and the other for assaulting a police officer.  The men all maintain innocence, saying that they were hanging out in a yard, and were not loitering on the street.