Murder Suspect Escapes Custody in Roaring Creek

Michael Middleton remains on the run this evening after he escaped police custody.  Roaring Creek Police had just arrested and charged Middleton for the murder of Travis Darnell Swift when he gave them the slip.  Our newsroom received a Police report on the arrest this morning and within two hours he had escaped from the Roaring Creek Police Station, Cayo District.  The 28-year-old construction worker is now a wanted man after being charged alongside 23-year-old, Kyle Roberts for the June 13 murder. Details surrounding Middleton’s escape remain scarce but we have come to understand that the Belize Police Department is launching an investigation into it. Meanwhile, Kyle Roberts remains in police custody pending arraignment. Love News spoke with Assistant Superintendent of Police, Stacy Smith, who explained the details surrounding the escape. 

Stacy Smith, Assistant Superintendent of Police: “Regrettably subsequent to Middleton’s arrest he escaped from lawful custody and such is wanted by police. Middleton is medium built. He stands at approximately five feet eight inches in height and is brown in complexion. The department anticipates that it will be able to apprehend Middleton in due course, but it takes the opportunity to remind the general public that it is an offense to knowingly harbor, conceal or assist in the harboring or the concealing of a wanted person and that offense is punishable with up to five years imprisonment. Certainly an internal investigation is being conducted as to the circumstances that led to Mr. Middleton being able to escape from police’s custody.”

Swift was killed inside his Camalote Village home when a gunman went into his yard and fired shots through the window.  As many as thirty expended shells were recovered at the scene. ASP Smith explained that indeed a motive has already been established by investigators, but it cannot be disclosed to the public as it is attached to a current court case.