Another Officer, Pattern Emerges in Police Domestic Violence Cases

Another police officer is facing serious domestic violence charges, just days after a similar case collapsed in court. This morning, PC Mercedes Chiac of the GI3 Unit appeared before the Belize City Magistrate’s Court, charged with use of deadly means of harm and wounding his common law wife, Rosie Munoz. Prosecutors told the court they are awaiting directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether the case will proceed in the Magistrate’s Court or the High Court, and no plea was taken. Munoz was escorted to court by police but was not allowed inside the courtroom. We understand she intended to withdraw the charges. Chiac was granted bail of two thousand dollars and is due back in court on June ninth. The charges stem from a violent incident on April nineteenth on Riverside Street. Police say Munoz reported being beaten, choked, and later stabbed in the neck after Chiac allegedly grabbed a knife from the kitchen. Chiac also suffered a stab wound to the neck. A doctor later classified Munoz’s injuries as wounding. The case comes on the heels of another controversy involving PC Phillip Garbutt, whose domestic violence charges were withdrawn earlier this week after the complainant sought to back out.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: