Sports Director Investigating Chilling Abuse Video

A viral video out of Dangriga is putting the National Sports Council under pressure tonight. In just six seconds, the clip captures the tense end of a confrontation between a facility caretaker and a teenage basketball player, and it’s already racked up nearly one hundred and fifty thousand views. The man at the center of it is Brian Swazo, the caretaker at the Russell “Chiste” Garcia Auditorium, a venue the council admits has been difficult to manage. According to officials, access control has long been a problem there. Swazo claims the incident started when a young man interrupted a volleyball practice and refused to leave the court. He says things escalated when the teen allegedly threw the ball, hitting him. But regardless of that account, the Sports Council says it is taking the matter seriously. An investigation is now underway to determine whether Swazo crossed the line and violated the council’s strict non-confrontation policy.

 

Jason Menzies, Director, National Sports Council

“My reaction was one of concern and without jumping to any conclusion, I wanted to see more as to what precipitated it and where it ended.”

 

Shane Williams

“And what steps have the council taken to see more and to get to the bottom of it?”

 

Jason Menzies

“Well, we’ve reached out to our AO in charge of that facility and asked her to provide us with reports from herself as what was told to her from the caretaker and to have the caretaker also file a police report as the – his report is that he was also assaulted by the parents of the child.”

 

Shane Williams

“And tell us what’s your message to Belizeans who saw the clip and have made their conclusion already?”

 

Jason Menzies

“I would say apply the same level of scrutiny to, to all concerns, to both sides.”

 

Brian Swazo is in police custody as the incident escalates. He says the child’s father, a police officer, punched him before his arrest. Public pressure is mounting for his firing, but the Sports Council says it will complete a full investigation before taking any action.

 

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.

 

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