By Belize Live News Staff: An early morning patrol in Orange Walk Town ended with a short chase and a drug utensil charge on Saturday.
According to police, officers were patrolling Progress Street around 2:45am on October 31 when they noticed a man on a bicycle behaving suspiciously.
When an officer approached and told him he would be searched, the man ran. Officers caught up with him and conducted a search, finding a silver metal pipe in his right front pocket.
He was identified as Mattew Mclaughlin, 59, of Staines Alley, Orange Walk Town.
Mclaughlin was taken to the Orange Walk Police Station, where he was informed of his rights and placed in a holding cell. The 3 inch pipe was measured, packaged and sealed in his presence, and he signed the evidence envelope.
Later that day, police formally arrested and charged him with possession of a utensil for smoking controlled drugs. He remained silent when cautioned.
It was the second arrest for the same offence in Orange Walk Town on Saturday.
