Thursday, March 28, 2024

Three Ambergris Caye Fishermen arraigned and remanded for Attempted Kidnapping, Burglary and Wounding

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On Monday, July 6th, fishermen Ruben Avalos Martinez, Mark Hernandez and David Lopez of the San Mateo Subdivision were arraigned at the San Pedro Magistrate Court after being charged for the crime of Attempted Kidnapping, along with Burglary and Wounding. They were remanded to the Belize Central Prison and are scheduled to return to court on October 7, 2020.

The incident took place on Saturday, July 4th, at a residence in San Mateo. According to an official report, the victim, 34-year-old Honduran labourer Virgilio Gomez Alverto, of the same area, reported to police that around 11AM, three men, who he recognized as Martinez, Hernandez, and Lopez, entered his house armed with a machete, knife, and a stick. Hernandez proceeded to hit his right side of the face with the stick, while Martinez tried to stab him with the knife. The reports details that Alverto defended himself, and a struggle ensued between them. The three assailants tried to pull him out of the house towards a white, red, blue, and black 15-foot skiff, which was on the lagoon side near the home. Before they could get Alverto into the boat, another struggle took place, and he was able to escape the attackers, running to a nearby Deli run by his wife.

Alverto later returned home and noticed several items missing, including two television sets, a washing machine, and a DVD player. A report was made to police, and the victim was treated for a swollen cheek, scratches, and scrapes on both feet, abrasions to his back and a cut wound to the left arm.

Police investigation led to the recovery of the white, red, blue, and black 15-foot skiff named ‘Stay with it,’ and the Belize Coast Guard immediately impounded it. The investigation also led to the detention of Martinez, Hernandez and Lopez, and the recovery of the missing items which were hidden in the mangroves in the lagoon area west of the island.

A motive for the attempted kidnapping was not provided, and up to press time, it is unknown what led the three fishermen to harm Alverto.

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