Police Inspector Criminally Charged for Assaulting Detainee in Rural Belize

Police have criminally charged one of their own after the Inspector of Police forced his way into a cell block in rural Belize and assaulted a detainee. On Friday night, 29-year-old Aaron Flowers was detained by police in Ladyville Village for questioning in relation to a shooting incident that occurred a month ago at the home of Police Inspector Christopher Martinez. Shortly after being detained, Flowers says an enraged Martinez barged into the Ladyville Police cell block and began to beat him in the head with a metal handcuff. Flowers was then transported to the KHMH for medical attention while Martinez, who is the nephew of the Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, was allowed to leave the station. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero, says Martinez has since been criminally charged and is also facing internal charges.

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “Aaron Flowers reported that he was detained at the Ladyville cellblock when he was approached by Inspector Christopher Martinez who approached him and inflicted an injury to his head. This is a report where Mr.Martinez previously made a report where his house had been shot at. This person was detained for questioning and then he entered the cell block and caused injury to this person. Christopher Martinez has since been arrested and charged for the crime of wounding.”

Reporter: Was there any efforts made by the other officer to stop this police from entering that cell block and injuring that man ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “Yes as soon as they heard noises coming from the cell the other officers who were present responded and he was removed from the cell block.”

Reporter: What action will be taken against Mr.Martinez ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “Again he has been arrested and charged for the crime of wounding and we are conducting an internal investigation and then the matter will be dealt with from there.”

Reporter: Is he on interdiction right now ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division:  “We are preparing a report and that will be determined sometime this week.”

Reporter: When was his house shot after ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division:  “This happened like one month and a half ago.”

Reporter: So the guy Flowers was detained for that ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division:  “He was detained for investigation regarding that.”

Reporter: Did the two know each other ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division:  “Yes they know each other. They had confronted each other in the past. They had some dispute prior to this incident.”

Our newsroom understands that Flowers was also charged with common assault upon Martinez, but police were unable to say where the charges stemmed from or if they were going to be dropped. Flowers’ family claims that he was been harassed by Martinez for months and say the senior cop pulled a firearm at Flowers in the presence of his wife and children. The family has retained the services of an attorney but say they have been advised to not provide a comment to the media.