Popular San Pedro bartender dies, police brutality suspected

Posted: Monday, March 7, 2016. 2:23 p.m. CST

By BBN Staff: A popular San Pedro bartender, Edwin Ixpatac, died early this morning as a result of injuries sustained last Thursday and four San Pedro police officers, currently in custody on suspicion of brutality, now face possible manslaughter or murder charges for his death.

According to reports, Ixpatac, 30, was taken into police custody on Thursday night after a call was made of an intoxicated man on the beach. Ixpatac had apparently been injured after crashing into a seawall and when officers arrived at the scene to offer aid, he was combative.

The drunker bartender reportedly fired kicks and punches at the officers and was taken into custody overnight. The following day, police took Ixpatac to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II. He was in such bad physical condition that he had to be transported to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (KHMH) in Belize City where he passed away as a result of his injuries.

It is suspected that Ixpatac was beaten by the arresting officers while in custody. On Friday, an investigating team of police officers from Belize City traveled to San Pedro to record witness statements. Four officers have since been placed on interdiction, pending brutality charges but now with Ixpatac’s death, those charges are expected to be upgraded.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.

© 2016, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.