A video showing two police officers manhandling a young man in Caye Caulker has ignited public concerns about excessive use of force by police.
21-year-old Andrew Novelo is seen in one of the videos raising his hands and walking toward officers before being forcefully restrained. One officer puts him in a chokehold, followed by the other officer violently slapping Novelo in the face. This was despite Novelo already being handcuffed. There is an inaudible verbal exchange between Novelo and the officers who slapped him. The video shows that Novelo made a sudden move towards the officer before being hit.
His mother, who spoke exclusively to News Five, says the attack was not only unprovoked but could have easily turned deadly.
According to the mother, the confrontation began after her son questioned why a traffic officer-in-training had moved his golf cart from where it was parked. Novelo had reportedly left briefly to use the bathroom and returned to find the cart being driven away.
She said Novelo gave chase on his bike and followed the cart to the Caye Caulker Village Council (CCVC) compound.
“He kept asking if he did something wrong … And instead of telling him what the issue was, the individual just laughed and replied he can impound any vehicle he wants to,” the mother said.
Video footage shows Novelo attempting to retrieve the golf cart with his bicycle placed on the back of the cart and reversing out of the CCVC compound. At that moment, a police golf cart intersected his way with two officers on board. Novelo is seen stepping off the cart, raising his hands when the confrontation escalated.
“They forcefully grab him! Slap him! Pin him against the fence! Put him in a chokehold,” the mother said. “Instead of the officers trying to assess the situation and calm the matter down, they in fact did the COMPLETE OPPOSITE and made matters worse.”
According to the mother, her son was beaten again after being taken into custody. Images of his injuries sustained shows scrapes on his ankle and bruises on his upper body, and neck, and wrists where the cuffs would have been placed.