| Alex Garcia charged for Stealing Sleeping BDF’s Rifle |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Thursday, 04 March 2010 00:00 |
 On February 12, BDF Privates Hubert Jones, Faustino Coc and PC Norman Lewis, were assigned duties in Belize City in the Rocky Road area. According to Private Jones, he was issued an M16 A1 rifle with serial number, 4819833, along with two magazines each containing thirty 5.56 live rounds of ammunitions. While on duty, the three proceeded to PC Lewis’ car parked at the corner of West Canal and Rocky Road where they all relaxed and fell asleep. Private Jones said that his M16 rifle was placed between his legs and the window of the car was half way down. He woke up at about 4:00 a.m. and
noticed that the M16 rifle was gone. He made checks with the others inside the car and they searched but could not locate the rifle. At about 6:00 a.m. on Friday, February 26, the missing M16 rifle was found in a bushy open lot located in the Jane Usher Boulevard area. According to police, 24-year-old Alex Garcia of #32 Jane Usher Boulevard confessed to stealing the rifle and led a team of officers, headed by ASP Grinage, to the stash spot. On Monday, March 1, Garcia, who claims he hangs out in the George Street area, appeared before Magistrate Albert Hoare in the Magistrate Court where he was charged with theft of an M16 A1 rifle, one M16 magazine loaded with 30 rounds of 5.56 ammunition and a black string attached to the rifle; all items belonging to the Government of Belize. The value of the items total $1,480.00. In court, Garcia was unrepresented and he pleaded not guilty to the charge of theft. The court prosecutor, Sgt. Aracelli Petillo objected to bail on the grounds that Garcia is a flight risk since he is a Honduran national. However, Garcia told Magistrate Hoare that he has been living in Belize for the past 20 years and since he came here he has never been back to Honduras. Garcia said that if he is granted bail he has nowhere to run. Garcia was held in custody until his status could be determined. At 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Magistrate Hoare denied Garcia bail since he was not a Belizean and could not produce any documents proving that he has been living in Belize for 20 years. He also owes the court $305 for a possession of pipe charge. He is due back before the court on March 12. |