Coast Guard Officer Investigated for Orange Walk Assault

A Coast Guard officer is under investigation tonight after allegedly pistol-whipping a man in Orange Walk. The weapon, a Glock 19, was not Coast Guard-issued. The alleged victim, a forty-three-year-old laborer, is demanding justice after the incident, which police say happened around three a.m. on Sunday on Progress Street. The officer, twenty-nine-year-old Eusabio Espinoza, reportedly fled the scene but was later detained. What makes this story even more striking? Just three weeks ago, Espinoza spoke with News Five about the death of his ninety-two-year-old father, accusing the Northern Regional Hospital of negligence. Today, we asked Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral Elton Bennett for his take on the situation.

 

On the Phone: Rear Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard

“I was informed that a Coast Guard member by the name of Espinoza was involved in an incident in Orange Walk. I know that he was charged for a firearm related misconduct. I don’t have the details of his disclosure, so I don’t have the full circumstances of what occurred. What I know is that he was charged and once a member of the Coast Guard is charged for such an offense there is a parallel discipline recourse that you would take internally that would lead to disciplinary action, administrative action against the individual. So, once the charge sheet is handed over to us then we will make a determination on the course of action, which will likely be a course of action separate from the criminal charge he will face involving the firearm.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Is he on active duty currently while you await that charge sheet?”

 

On the Phone: Rear Admiral Elton Bennett

“Yes, that charge sheet would initiate the internal administrative process.”