In a shocking development that has drawn public attention across Belize, a serving Coast Guard officer and a second suspect have been taken into custody following a brazen armed vehicle theft that unfolded in Hattieville Village on the evening of Thursday, August 21, 2026 (reported publicly on August 24, 2026).
Official police accounts confirm that shortly before 8 p.m. that night, two masked men — one armed with a loaded firearm — forced their way into the private residence of the individual who had possession of the vehicle targeted in the heist. The armed intruders threatened the resident and demanded the keys to a brand-new 2026 black Wingle pickup truck, a vehicle that subsequent reporting confirms is formally registered as property of the Belize Coast Guard. Left with no viable option to resist the armed threat, the resident complied with the attackers’ demands, and the pair immediately fled the scene in the stolen pickup.
Law enforcement activated their standard response protocols immediately after receiving the emergency report of the invasion and theft, and the operation led to a successful interception less than two hours after the crime was committed. By approximately 9:45 p.m., a police operational team positioned in Santa Rosa, located in western Belize, located the stolen Wingle pickup. When officers moved to intercept the vehicle, a second vehicle carrying the suspects attempted to speed away from the scene, triggering a short vehicle pursuit through the local area before police were able to stop the car and take both suspects into custody.
The two arrested individuals have been identified as Sheffan Hemmans, a serving officer with the Belize Coast Guard, and Alberto Arriaza, a civilian suspect. In addition to the theft and invasion charges, a subsequent search of Hemmans following his arrest uncovered 50 live rounds of .22 LR ammunition in his possession. Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith, a Staff Officer with the Belize Police Department, confirmed that Hemmans is facing an additional criminal charge of possession of ammunition without a valid firearms license.
The case marks an unusual incident for Belize’s law enforcement community, as it involves a serving uniformed officer being accused of participating in an armed home invasion and theft of a vehicle owned by the service he is employed by. Investigations into the incident are ongoing as authorities prepare to proceed with court proceedings against both suspects.