Police Sergeant shot in western Belize with one man detained

Police Commissioner Dr. Richard Rosado was among several senior officers at the hospital this afternoon monitoring the condition of a police officer who was shot while responding to a disturbance in the Maya Ranch area of the Cayo District.  The injured officer has been identified as Sergeant Dalon Kelly, who is attached to the Belize Police Department and stationed at the Georgeville Police Station. Authorities say he is currently receiving treatment and is listed in stable condition.  Police have since detained one male person and recovered a nine–millimeter pistol as part of their ongoing investigation into the shooting. Initial reports indicate that at approximately three–thirty this afternoon, Sergeant Kelly and other officers responded to information about a disturbance in the Maya Ranch area, located about four miles along the road to Mountain Pine Ridge.  During the course of their response, police say Sergeant Kelly was reportedly shot by the male individual who is now in custody. Following the incident, the wounded officer was transported to the hospital where medical personnel immediately began treatment.  The shooting is believed to have occurred in an area that has been the subject of ongoing tensions in recent months. Reports have surfaced since January regarding a land dispute between squatting farmers and private landowners in the region. Earlier complaints related to that dispute included an attempted murder report, although police have not yet confirmed whether today’s incident is directly connected.  Authorities say the investigation remains active as officers continue gathering statements and examining the circumstances that led to the shooting.