Man Claims Police Brutality, But He’s the One Facing Charges

A nineteen-year-old father from Baracat Street, Andrew Guild, says he was assaulted by police, but it’s Guild who’s now before the court, accused of attacking an officer. After spending two nights in lockdown, Guild was escorted to the Belize City Magistrate’s Court this morning. He was read a single charge of aggravated assault on Police Constable Kenton Arzu. Though unrepresented, Guild got legal advice from attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley and pleaded not guilty. He was granted bail of two thousand dollars with conditions, including no contact with the officer or witnesses and weekly check-ins starting this Friday. The charge stems from a July twenty-seventh incident. Police say they intercepted Guild driving a pickup with no plates. He was reportedly wanted for questioning in a shooting. According to officers, Guild resisted arrest and shoved PC Arzu during the confrontation. He was subdued and taken into custody. Guild spoke with a court reporter following his arraignment earlier today.

 

Andrew Guild, Charged with Aggravated Assault

“Di whole thing is, right, di police try use force upon me and I tried to help myself and when dehn realize that I di try help myself, dehn cohn tackle me to di ground, use excessive force against me. If yoh notice, mi face still lee bruise up ah lee bit, yoh get di sense.”

 

Reporter

“Where were you when all of this happened and why did they even come to where you were?”

 

Andrew Guild

“At the moment, I just jump eena my car di reverse up, di go look fi pick up my daughter.”

 

Reporter

“Which area is this?”

 

Andrew Guild

“Dis da right by corner ah Kraal Road and Reggae Street. I deh pan my way fi goh pick up daughter and di police truck stop me. Alright, I done sih da wah regular police stop. Soh dehn come out, search di vehicle, everything straight. Dehn tell me fi goh. Soh I di reverse now from outta dehn way, about fi goh, and di officer weh seh I assaulted he, come outta di truck, chase down my car fi a second time and tell me bout come outta di vehicle. So right away I felt threatened. Right away, I push my hand outta di vehicle and I tell ahn I noh have nothing, I noh di do nothing. By the time he open my door, he di use excessive force against me, he di look fi hurt me. So weh I do, I try use myself fi just let go affa he and di release affa he. Afta dat, two other police cohn, tackle me to the ground and had dehn knee eena my neck, all eena my back too and I couldn’t breathe fi like three minutes. And I mek dehn know clear dat a wah sue all ah unu. And me, personally, I think di reason why da man bring da charge to me because ih know that I wah tek legal action and I noh wahn stop til I get my victory.”

 

Guild is due back in court on October seventh.