By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize City detainee allegedly threatened to kill a police officer and then lunged at him through the bars of a cell block after officers told prisoners that smoking would not be allowed inside.
Chervin Calvin Tench, 25, appeared unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where he pleaded not guilty to one count of threat of death and one count of aggravated assault upon a police officer.
The allegations stem from an incident at the Precinct 2 Police Station at around 7:45 a.m. on September 10, while officers were carrying out routine checks of prisoners inside the cell block.
According to the police complaint, officers entered a cell containing seven prisoners and informed them that smoking of any kind would not be permitted.
Police allege that Tench objected and told the officer that he would smoke as much as he wanted. He allegedly also indicated that he had marijuana in his possession.
The officer then reportedly left to get additional personnel to conduct a more thorough search of the cell.
Police say that when officers returned, the prisoners became boisterous and Tench allegedly threatened the officer, telling him in part, “I will kill you. It’s a promise.”
The officer informed Tench that he would be charged for the alleged threat.
Police further allege that while the search was being conducted, Tench continued behaving boisterously and, after being told to calm down, thrust his hand through an opening between the metal bars and attempted to strike the officer in the face.
The officer later made a formal complaint and requested court action.
Tench pleaded not guilty to both charges. The prosecution did not object to bail but requested conditions.
He was granted bail of $1,500 plus one surety in the same amount, with conditions that he have no contact with the complainant and not be arrested and charged with another offence while on bail.
During his arraignment, Tench told the court that he had changed his lifestyle since being released from prison and had attempted to move away from his former neighbourhood. The Magistrate cautioned him against discussing the facts of the case further after entering his not-guilty pleas.
Tench is due back in court on November 4, 2026.
He was previously convicted in October 2023 of keeping an unlicensed firearm after police said they saw him attempting to dispose of an unloaded 9mm Glock during an encounter in May 2022. He later served a prison sentence of two years and two months after receiving credit for time already spent on remand.
The post Detainee allegedly refuses to stop smoking in police cell, says he has weed, threatens to kill and lunges at officer appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: A Belize City detainee allegedly threatened to kill a police officer and then lunged at him through the bars of a cell block after officers told prisoners that smoking would not be allowed inside. Chervin Calvin Tench, 25, appeared unrepresented before a Senior Magistrate in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court
The post Detainee allegedly refuses to stop smoking in police cell, says he has weed, threatens to kill and lunges at officer appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
