Court Dismisses SOE Charges Against Teens, Cites Police Misconduct

Five individuals, including four minors and a 19-year-old Leadership Intervention Unit (LIU) employee, escaped serious charges today thanks to the courts. The group was dragged before the Belize City Magistrate’s Court this morning after being charged under the current State of Emergency (SOE) regulations. The group, consisting of two 13-year-olds, a 14-year-old, a 17-year-old, and 19-year-old Donie Wite, was accused of “assembling in a group of three or more” on Saturday. Police say they found the group socializing on Ordonez Street, an area currently under SOE restrictions. However, when they appeared unrepresented before Chief Magistrate Deborah Rogers, the court found no grounds to proceed with the case. The Chief Magistrate sharply criticized the actions of police officers, calling the arrests a case of “entrapment” and labeling the incident a “victimless offense.” She noted the group was not warned, nor were they acting in a disorderly manner at the time of their detention. The Chief Magistrate further stated that the SOE is designed to prevent crime, not criminalize innocent gatherings, especially involving minors. She dismissed the charges, citing unethical conduct by the arresting officers and a lack of proper investigation. One mother testified to being denied information about her son’s detention and described feeling abused and victimized by the officers at the station. Donie Wite, the adult among the accused, told the court they were merely talking and attempting to walk away when officers arrived and aggressively detained them. All five were advised to report the incident to the Professional Standards Branch. The case has sparked concerns over the enforcement of the SOE and the treatment of minors during police operations.