Man Detained After Chasing and Grabbing Schoolgirls on Pallotti Overpass

A morning walk to school turned into a terrifying ordeal for several high school girls after a man reportedly attempted to grab and chase them along the Pallotti overpass in Belize City. The alert was first raised by the mother of one of the victims, who shared that her daughter, a regular user of the overpass to get to school, was approached by a man who grabbed her shirt and chased her. Although the girl managed to escape unharmed, the incident left her shaken. Moments later, the same individual reportedly targeted another student from Pallotti High School, who was walking behind the first girl. The assailant did not engage with a male student walking in front, suggesting a deliberate focus on female students. According to the mother, this points to a pattern of predatory behavior, taking advantage of the area’s low adult presence during the summer break. Via a Facebook post she said quote “The overpass should be safe. But when our children are being targeted while simply going to school, it’s clear something is broken,” “Mental illness cannot be an excuse for calculated acts like this.” End of quote. Authorities have since confirmed the individual believed responsible has been taken into custody. At least three other female students have come forward, reporting similar encounters with the same man. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the suspect may be linked to other incidents in the area.