Two persons were detained pending investigations in relation to a robbery which took place at Golden Motel Inn in Punta Gorda Town, Toledo on Monday, April 26. They have since been arrested and charged for the crime of aggravated burglary. Kimberly Monique Coye, a 22-year-old resident of Placencia Village, Stann Creek was inside a vehicle along with Kobe Stephan Dyer, a 23-year-old resident of Hattieville Village, Belize, when police, who were operating a vehicular checkpoint, found them with a prohibited .45mm firearm and items believed to have been stolen during the robbery. The incident took place at around 3:30 p.m. while Hsu Chui Pi-Chen, the 73-year-old business owner, was at the hotel. Pi- Chen reported that three persons, a woman and two men, entered the hotel and made demands for cash while pointing the firearm at Pi-Chen. The culprits proceeded to ransack the establishment, and made off with an undisclosed about of money, jewelry, and assorted beverages. They were also able to steal and escape in a white 4-door Toyota Hilux which was parked inside the garage.
Just over an hour later, at about 4:45 p.m., police officers conducting a vehicular checkpoint on the Southern Highway between miles 47 and 48 at the Trio junction stopped a black two-door Ford Ranger pickup which approached the checkpoint. Upon inspection of the vehicle, they observed two persons inside the vehicle who identified themselves as Dyer and Coye. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of the .45mm caliber pistol STI Spartan-IV COLT and a magazine containing three live rounds of ammunition. Also inside the vehicle were assorted alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, and a laptop. A subsequent highway patrol was conducted by police in an area between miles 15 and 16 on the Southern Highway where they observed the stolen Toyota Hilux. A chase ensued but the driver of the Hilux alighted the vehicle and made good his escape in the bushes. Police have since recovered the vehicle and arrested Coye and Dyer for the crime.
Police have since recovered the vehicle and arrested Coye and Dyer for the crime of aggravated burglary. Likewise, they have both been charged for possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of prohibited ammunition.
