Man found with drugs and ammunition claims police broke his arm during a search

Published by BBNTEAM at May 18, 2022

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Posted: Wednesday, May 18, 2022. 6:15 pm CST.

By BBN Staff: Two Hattieville men were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on drugs and ammunition charges; one of them with a broken arm which he says was the work of the Belize Police Department.

Thirty-five-year-old Marvin Steven and 21-year-old Keva Franklin appeared unrepresented in court, where they were jointly charged with possession of controlled drugs with the intent to supply, in respect to 462.1 grams (just over a pound) of marijuana found during a police search.

Steven was additionally charged with one count of obstructing a police officer and one count of assaulting a police officer.

Both men pleaded not guilty to their charges and were offered bail in the sum of $3,000 each, which Franklin was able to meet. However, Steven, who was out on parole after serving the majority of a 15 sentence for manslaughter, also had outstanding debts to the court. He was remanded to the Belize Central Prison until he can pay his outstanding $250 and meet his bail.

In court he explained that police beat him up badly, with one officer knocking him to the ground and he landed on his elbow, breaking his right arm. He also claimed that police stomped him many times while he was on the ground.

The Magistrate told Steven that he would have to make a formal complaint to the Professional Standards Branch of the Belize Police Department.

A police report regarding the incident says that Steven was trying to hide evidence during a search of his home, and resisted being detained by police causing a struggle that lasted approximately 10 minutes before he was subdued.

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