The public has expressed their outrage at a video that surfaced on social media, purportedly showing the police using excessive force on individuals in Belmopan. It then became apparent that 78-year-old Alejandro Chaves was badly beaten in the process. Cayo Correspondent Fem Cruz went to the elderly man’s home over the weekend and got their side of the story.

Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams, stated that the matter is currently under investigation. While he awaits the results of that investigation, though, he stated that he believes the police were excessive in their treatment of Chaves. He also suggested that the other men involved in the incident had previously injured another police officer.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police: “I know the officers reported that they had responded to a situation in Belmopan and according to them they were shot at by some individual and these were the same individuals who were involved in the chopping of the police officer Mr.Teul and there seems to be a gang that operates within that area and so the officers responded and they may have gotten some resistance nad based on that they too had to fire warning shots and that led to whatever took place. While I may be able to understand to some extent what the officers encountered I don’t think that the 78-year-old man was a part of what took place and therefore whatever was done to the old man is something that we’re looking at to see if it is justified – I don’t think it is – but I’ll await the investigation report to see what Professional Standards Branch unearths and then based on that I’ll give directive in terms of how we’re going to address the issue but as police officers we must respect our senior citizens. If it is that the man was not a part of or even if he were a part of the extent of force used on him I don’t think it was warranted.”

Police Constable Edgar Teul was chopped by four men back in January while defending a family member.