Robbery Suspect Escapes Police Custody in San Ignacio

Police in San Ignacio are on high alert tonight as they hunt for twenty-nine-year-old Israel Bradley, a Santa Elena barber who escaped custody after allegedly robbing two American women on Burns Avenue. Now, investigators believe he gave them the wrong name. But surveillance footage shows him stalking and attacking the tourists late Friday night, making off with a purse containing cash, cards, and a cellphone. Authorities say he was initially detained and found with stolen items but managed to flee while officers were cleaning the cell block. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

A twenty-nine-year-old barber from Santa Elena is on the run after allegedly robbing two American tourists in San Ignacio. Police detained Israel Bradley for the crime, but he later escaped. They now believe he gave them a false name. Surveillance cameras on Burns Avenue caught the robbery as it unfolded Friday night.

 

In this video, the suspect is seen walking up Burns Avenue at around nine fourteen p.m. He paused to tie his shoelace before moving on, scanning his surroundings as he walked. As he approached the camera, more details became clear. He is slim built, and wore black sneakers, dark hoodie and a warm hat. He’s later seen walking near an abandoned lot on Burns Avenue before slipping into the property through a gap in the fence. It was 9:15 when he likely noticed his targets, who strolled past the abandoned lot less than two minutes afterward. And just like that, he reappeared and began following the two women. First, he walked casually behind the two women and then he began sprinting towards them. The suspect went after the woman carrying the purse and she fought back for fifteen seconds, and he kept swinging punches at her. Her friend screamed for help and also tried to fight him off.

 

 

“Hailey let go.”

“That has everything.”

“I know, I know, come on, this way, this way.”

 

 

 

Earl Trapp, Mayor, San Ignacio

“And its circulating on social media and it looks terrible on us.”

 

 

 

 

Mayor Earl Trapp is concerned about the message this incident sends to potential tourists of the twin towns, and the impact it can have on the industry.

 

Earl Trapp

“The only good thing about that is that the police department responded immediately and by the end of the night they were able to apprehend the culprit.”

 

 

 

But the suspect later escaped from lawful custody.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“This male person is wanted for the crime of robbery and escaping from lawful custody. The robbery being investigated occurred on Friday nineteenth December when two American nationals reported to police that they were walking on Burns Avenue when they were accosted by a person with knife who proceeded to demand their personal belonging and their struggle ensued after which he was able to wrestle a purse belonging to one of the females. The purse contained a cell phone and two hundred dollars in cash, along with cards belonging to one of the females.”

 

 

 

The stolen cellphone was later traced and recovered. Police released details about the suspect’s identity before later capturing Bradley in Santa Elena, where a search uncovered two items stolen from the American woman. But how did Bradley escape?

 

ASP Stacy Smith

“Regrettably during the course of his detention while the officer in charge of the cell block was facilitating the cleaning of the cell block the male person was able to bolt and make good his escape.”

 

 

 

Police now believe he gave them a fake name.

 

Paul Lopez

“Is San Ignacio no longer safe for tourist?”

 

Earl Trapp

“No Mr. Lopez, no I dispel that. San Ignacio and Santa Elena is very safe for tourists but we will never be able to eradicate crime. It could be right in the center of town and some robbers are facey. But it is safe and I can tell you I will follow up with the Belize Electricity Limited in terms of our tourism corridor, because there is a project that was suppose to be up already. I will find out about the delays and see if we can get the tourism corridor properly lit.”

 

The alleged culprit remains at large as police remind citizens that it is a crime to harbor a wanted person. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.