A Belize City mother has come forward with grave allegations against local law enforcement following a violent neighborhood altercation that left her infant daughter injured. Amika Betran claims that both she and her one-year-old child were assaulted with a crowbar during a dispute on December 16, just two days before the child’s first birthday.
According to Betran’s account, the incident occurred while she was walking near her residence with her child. What began as a verbal argument rapidly escalated when a male assailant allegedly struck her with a crowbar, with the weapon making contact with the infant’s head. The child sustained significant facial injuries including lacerations and bruising, requiring immediate medical attention at a local hospital.
Betran filed an official police report on the day of the incident but alleges systematic inaction and procedural delays from authorities. Despite multiple follow-up visits to the police station, she claims investigators have shown minimal urgency in pursuing the case. In one particularly concerning instance, she was instructed to return to the station at midnight to speak with an officer—a time she notes is highly inconvenient for caring for an injured infant.
The frustrated mother has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest within the police department, suggesting that a relative of the accused may be serving as an officer. Betran asserts that only one individual has been charged despite multiple participants being involved in the attack.
Now considering legal action against the police department, Betran emphasizes the need for accountability within law enforcement. ‘When you have officers that don’t show pride and respect toward their jobs,’ she stated, ‘the whole department can be disgraced.’ The case has drawn attention to broader concerns about police responsiveness and procedural transparency in handling violent crimes within the community.