By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Burrell Boom resident who escaped from police custody, claiming he needed to feed his family, has been fined nearly $1,000 after pleading guilty to the offenses.
Twenty-eight-year-old Rene Alfonso Ortega appeared unrepresented before a Magistrate in Court #3 on Tuesday, where he was charged with escape from lawful custody and possession of utensils used for smoking drugs.
The incident occurred on Sunday, March 15, 2026, on Arnold Avenue in Burrell Boom Village. Police reported that Ortega was found in possession of a five-inch silver metal pipe adapted for smoking crack cocaine. While being transported to the Burrell Boom Police Station, Ortega reportedly jumped out of the police vehicle and fled into nearby bushes.
He was later recaptured following an alert issued to officers.
In court, Ortega pleaded guilty to both charges and admitted his actions were wrong. However, he told the court he fled because his wife and child were hungry and he wanted to bring food home.
“I knew it was wrong… I should have told the police instead of running,” Ortega said.
The court accepted his guilty plea and, taking into account his admission and circumstances, imposed non-custodial sentences. Ortega was fined a total of $910.
He was fined $605 for escaping lawful custody, payable by September 30, 2026, and $305 for possession of drug utensils, payable by May 30, 2026. In default of payment, he faces three months imprisonment.
Police had initially detained Ortega during a mobile patrol after observing his suspicious behavior. While no contraband was found on his person, the pipe was discovered inside a hat he had thrown to the ground moments before the search.
Despite his explanation, the court emphasized that his actions constituted serious offenses, resulting in additional penalties.
The post Burrell Boom man caught with crack pipe, jumps out of police truck and escapes custody to go home and feed family appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Burrell Boom resident who escaped from police custody, claiming he needed to feed his family, has been fined nearly $1,000 after pleading guilty to the offenses. Twenty-eight-year-old Rene Alfonso Ortega appeared unrepresented before a Magistrate in Court #3 on Tuesday, where he was charged with escape from lawful custody
The post Burrell Boom man caught with crack pipe, jumps out of police truck and escapes custody to go home and feed family appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.