Channel 5 News 22 September 1999

Saying they will have zero tolerance for crime, the Ministry of National Security is investigating every officer who was on duty at the Belmopan Police Station on Independence Day following what appears to be the death of a prisoner. The results of a postmortem late this evening, which revealed that thirty-eight year old Daniel Tillett had a fractured skull, water in his lungs and a ruptured liver, has prompted the Ministry of National Security to arrest three constables: Jesus Canton, Marilyn Casey and Dennis Miles. But everyone who was in the station that day, including the Officer in Charge Inspector Leslie Logan and three others ranging from sergeant to corporal are being questioned and may be suspended or interdicted from duty. Police Press Officer Christie Castillo says the public can rest assured that the incident is being investigated to the fullest and no one will be immune from prosecution. Belmopan police had initially reported that they picked up Daniel Tillett and another man in Independence Park just before four o'clock Tuesday afternoon because they were fighting. The police claimed Tillett was under the influence of alcohol and harassed the officers. They say they discovered him passed out in his own vomit and took him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. But a cellmate has reportedly told family members police repeatedly beat the detainee and forced his head into the toilet and flushed it numerous times. The family reported the allegations to the Human Rights Commission which issued a statement today asking for a full investigation. This is the second time in three weeks a prisoner at the Belmopan Station has died. Earlier this month police reported a man accused of incest had hanged himself inside his cell.