Off-Duty Police Officer Killed in Hit and Run on Highway

An off-duty police officer is dead following an early morning hit and run on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Arcenio Cus, a native of Silver Creek Village, Toledo District was pronounced dead at Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) at 3:57 this morning.  Cus was clipped by a black vehicle and lost control of the motorcycle he was riding.  The incident occurred just after one o’clock this morning between miles six and seven.  Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered the officer’s motionless body on the highway. Love News spoke with ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding the Eastern Division who explained that Cus was coming from Ladyville at the time of the incident. 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “Investigation is that Cus was riding his motorcycle towards Belize City when a vehicle struck him and caused his fatal injuries. We are currently carrying out an investigation. So far we have nobody in custody as the person involved fled from the scene.”

Reporter: Was he wearing a helmet ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “I do not know at this time, I would need to check.”

Reporter: What kind of vehicle was he hit with ? 

ACP Hilberto Romero, Officer Commanding Eastern Division: “I do not know what type of vehicle, that is all the information we have that he was on his motorcycle when he was struck. He was traveling alone at the time.”

While the Belize Police Department mourns the loss of one of their own, a grieving family is also left without a beloved son and breadwinner. The Cus family received the devastating news around four o’clock this morning and traveled to Belize City to clear out his apartment. Love News spoke with his sister, Paulina Cus, who says his passing came just two days before what would have been their late mother’s birthday.

Sister: “At this moment he was stationed in Ladyville. He was in the police department for nineteen to twenty years. At this moment it’s a sad moment for all of us. We’re trying to come together and until after the post mortem then we will proceed from there. My brother was a smart guy. He was very sociable, he likes to give and helps us among the siblings. What else can I say he was just a person that was willing to help out whoever was in need that much I know of him. Of course I have very fond memories of him but that’s what I’m going to keep in my memory to live with. History repeated itself today because I lost a brother nineteen years ago in the same raid traffic accident.”

Reporter: And was he also a police officer ? 

Sister: “He was in the BDF. My dad depends on him. Life has to go on. I know that my family comes from a church background so we leave everything in God’s hands. We last saw him on Friday because he’s a person that goes down and visits us weekly. It’s whenever he has days off he goes, there’s no week that he misses.”

As of news time this evening, the vehicle still has not been located.