Construction Worker Remanded After Assaulting Police Officer

Twenty-nine-year-old construction worker Jayaer Flores was unable to post bail today and has been remanded to prison. Flores appeared in court, where he was represented by attorney Dickie Bradley. He pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault upon a police officer and escaping from lawful custody. Police allege that on August 21, Flores committed aggravated assault on Constable Erwin Hernandez while the officer was on duty. He was also charged with escaping lawful custody after being detained for the assault.  According to a police report, Constable Hernandez and other officers were at the corner of Banak and Lakeview Streets to conduct a house search. The officer claims he saw a man, identified as Flores, and instructed him to come down from the stairs of a building. As the officer prepared to search him for illegal weapons, Flores allegedly grabbed his waist, slapped the officer’s hand, and ran. Hernandez says he chased Flores and heard a single gunshot. When he caught up, he found Flores on the ground in a nearby yard. Flores was taken to the hospital for treatment and later handed over to police. Outside the courtroom, Flores’s father, Errol Swift, told reporters that his son was shot in the back by police while simply trying to buy a cigarette. He claims his son was told to “freeze” but continued walking, at which point he was shot. Swift said his family plans to sue the police department and has retained legal counsel. Flores was granted bail of $2,500 with two sureties, but as of late this afternoon, he was unable to meet the requirements and has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until October 10.