Posted: Thursday, August 6, 2026 8:12 am Views: 0 By Breaking Belize News Staff (HP): A Silver Creek Village man's pickup truck had two of its windows completely shattered as it sat parked in his own yard, and an 18-year-old relative by marriage has been formally charged, in a case where the village Alcalde carried out the detention in a display of Belize's traditional and formal justice systems working side by side.
According to the Belize Police Department, a 42-year-old retired soldier of the Toledo District village reported that on Monday, August 3, 2026, at about 10:30 a.m., he received a phone call from a relative informing him that a young man known to the family had broken the back glass and front passenger side window of his white 2014 Ford Ranger pickup.
He produced an estimate placing the total cost of the damage and repair at $825.
On arriving home, the man found the truck still parked in his yard facing his house, exactly where he had left it undamaged, but with the back glass and front passenger door window completely shattered. Checking inside, he found a large stone on the front passenger seat, which he believes was used to shatter the windows. He produced an estimate placing the total cost of the damage and repair at $825.
Police recorded statements from the complainant and the witness, and the scene was processed by a scenes of crime technician.
The detention took a distinctly Toledo path. Police contacted the Alcalde of Silver Creek Village about the report, and it was the traditional village authority who detained the young man, who was subsequently identified through documentation provided by his family as Nigel Butz, an 18-year-old unemployed resident of the village.
On Wednesday, August 4, police visited the Punta Gorda Police Station cell block, informed Butz of the report against him and the crime of damage to property, and cautioned him. His rights in custody were read, explained, and issued in an acknowledgement form, which he signed. Police then obtained a warrant in the first instance and formally arrested and charged Butz with damage to property. Asked if he understood the charge, he answered yes, and upon being cautioned once more, he remained silent.
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