Tenant Remanded After Gun Found Inside Rented Apartment

A Belize City tenant has now joined his landlord behind bars after police discovered a firearm and ammunition inside the apartment he was renting on Electric Avenue earlier this month. 33-year-old Andre Devon Garnett was arraigned today in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on charges of keeping an unlicensed firearm and keeping unlicensed ammunition. The charges stem from a police search conducted on May 12 at an apartment located on Electric Avenue in the Saint Martin’s area, which remains under the current State of Emergency regulations. During the search, police reportedly uncovered a firearm concealed beneath a rug inside the living room, along with fifteen live rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition. Investigators say the serial number on the weapon had been visibly obliterated.  Garnett appeared unrepresented before Magistrate Neeshad Mohammed and pleaded not guilty to both charges. However, because the offenses fall under the Crimes Control and Criminal Justice Act, the lower court was unable to grant him bail. He was subsequently remanded to the Belize Central Prison until June 10.  During today’s arraignment, Garnett told the court he had no knowledge of the firearm or ammunition found inside the apartment and expressed regret over renting the property. According to reports from court, Garnett stated that he works long hours and was unaware of what may have been taking place at the residence.  Garnett now joins his landlord, 34-year-old Thomas Ferguson, who was similarly arraigned and remanded last Friday on the same firearm and ammunition charges. Ferguson had also denied knowledge of the weapon and told the court he was merely renovating the apartment at the time police conducted the search.  According to police, officers attached to the Gang Intelligence Investigation and Interdiction Unit carried out the operation after receiving information about a man allegedly in possession of a firearm at the residence. Officers say they searched the home after announcing their presence and later discovered the weapon hidden beneath a large rug inside the living room area.  Police investigations into the matter continue.