Belize City Man Fined After Pleading Guilty to Assaulting Police Officer

A Belize City man pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against a police officer today, but claims he is the victim. Twenty-eight-year-old John Orosco, a resident of New Road, was shot by police near the checkpoint on Saturday. He was subsequently charged with aggravated assault upon police constable Reynaldo Bol. Appearing unrepresented before Magistrate Ludlow Black, Orosco wasted no time and pleaded guilty to the charge. He was fined $400 plus a $5.00 court cost, which he must pay by September 30, or face four months in prison. Despite his guilty plea, Orosco told reporters outside the courtroom that he only pleaded guilty because he didn’t want to waste the court’s time and had no attorney present. He maintained that he was the victim and did nothing to warrant being shot in the back. Orosco said he complied with the police when they told him to put up his hands for a search. He alleges he was violated, and all he did was ask the officer to show him his hands before the search began. Police say their version of events differs from Orosco’s. According to their report, Orosco pushed Constable Bol in the chest. This assault allegedly occurred after police responded to an urgent call for assistance regarding two males fighting on New Road near the checkpoint. Police say Orosco, identified as one of the men involved in the fight, resisted and attacked one of the officers. Another officer, fearing for his life after Orosco allegedly uttered threatening words, shot him.