JULY 17, 2014 MEETING REGARDING MURDER OF STIG PEDERSEN Despite threatening weather, about 50-80 concerned expatriates and local Panamanians from throughout the Bocas del Toro archipelago attended a meeting at 3:00 pm at Rana Azul Pizzeria in Tierra Oscura. The purpose of the meeting was to: a) learn what transpired on the night of June 21, 2014 at the home of Stig and Maribel Pedersen; b) learn the current status of the investigation into the violent attack which led to Stigs death; and c) learn what residents and visitors can do legally to protect themselves and their property against intruders. Officials present at the meeting were: Mr. Norman Wood, former Governor of Bocas del Toro Province Officer Fernando Demmison, DIJ Sgt. Martin Sanchez, Liaison to Tourism and Neighborhood Watch, Bocas Isla Private Irelis Santos, Bocas Isla Police Corporal Julius Navarro, Bocas Isla Police Abdel Siles, Criminalistics Dept. Larry Shane, Warden for Bocas del Toro, US Embassy Mr. Wood chaired the meeting and opened by suggesting that the International Community prepare a resolution recommending specific changes to laws and regulations that allow criminals to commit crimes repeatedly and without adequate penalty. Mr. Wood indicates that this may be an opportune time with a new President in Panama. Attendees expressed frustration with a system that allows criminals to return to the community after serving a short sentence only to commit further crimes. Attendees also expressed concern that children are used to commit crimes, especially thefts, and that they are not prosecuted nor is there any juvenile detention facility. Officer Demison and Sgt. Sanchez together described the police response to the call for help about 9 pm on June 21 stating that 6 masked and armed men had invaded the home home of Stig and Maribel Pedersen in Tiera Oscura. Stig was critically beaten and both he and Maribel were forced into Stigs boat which the attackers drove away. (While the officers did not so state, Maribel jumped from the boat and made her way to a house where the owner used the VHF BEN Network Channel 68 to call for help. A relay was made by phone to Officer Demison of the DIJ.) Acting immediately, police were able to coordinate a massive hunt utilizing units from Bocas, Changuinola, Almirante, and Chiriqui Grande. Ultimately, they found Stigs boat at Pitti Creek, at the southern end of Shepherds Bay, a location easily accessible to the highway from Almirante to Chiriqui Grande. They found Stig seriously wounded and covered in gasoline either poured or perhaps sloshed out when the boat had hit a tree truck. A television and other items from Stigs house were in the boat. The police moved critically wounded Stig to their boat and took him to the hospital in Almirante. (Also not discussed by the officers during the meeting: Stig was later transferred to Changuinola Hospital then ultimately to Chiriqui Grande Hospital in David where he underwent brain surgery. He was subsequently released from the hospital with partial paralysis and then died from breathing difficulty in his home in David in the early hours of July 12.) The police have subsequently arrested 3 individuals. Two men are from Changuinola and were involved two years ago when a Customs agent was killed. No names were given. The third man, however, was named: Fernando Mitchell, a man known for multiple thefts in the Shepherds Bay/Tierra Oscura area, a man who has been in and out of jail many times. All 3 men, experienced criminals, refuse to name the other 3 men involved in the attack. The men were first charged with assault, an offense with a maximum sentence of 10 years. Since the death of Stig, the charges have been changed to homicide, punishable by a maximum of 30 years. Officer Demison indicates that the investigation has moved forward significantly and that additional arrests are forthcoming. Discussion ensued regarding the shortage of police to cover a large and remote area: for the entire Bocas del Toro Province there are 25 with DIJ and 200 with police. Sgt. Sanchez says that the Bocas Police have a marine radio and that he monitors the morning VHF Net on Channel 68. He is aware of where most homes of BEN members are located. He also stated that the Police Dept. monitors VHF 13, 14, and 16 around the clock. Emergency calls can also be made via phone to the 104 emergency number, similar to a 911 emergency number. The BEN Network also has many stations monitoring Channel 68 around the clock. One participant suggested that a $200 repeater would boost VHF radio signals to reach a 100 mile radius (no discussion as to whether this would help with houses blocked by hills.) Warden Shane suggested that the Security Office of the US Embassy could offer assistance in developing an Internet based alert system. Participants pointed out that while many people have Internet service, few monitor it around the clock. Mr. Shane also made several suggestions regarding home security. He said that he is making efforts to organize university student blood donors in both David and Panama City as access to blood is often difficult in emergencies such as Stigs. Of great interest to all was the statement by Officer Demison and Sgt. Sanchez that any person in Panama has a right to protect him or herself from danger in whatever ways deemed necessary. In the event that an attacker/intruder is wounded or killed, the police will investigate, but in any reasonable situation, the person protecting himself will not be held in jail during the investigation. Officers also advised participants should report threats of harm to the Corregidor and ask for a written copy of that report. A Panamanian man expressed concern that he is responsible for protecting the finca where he is employed. Officer Sanchez assured him that he, too, legally can protect himself and the premises in the event of intruders. Several individuals offered to come together to assist in preparing a resolution that can be presented to Panamanian officials.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 15:00:26 +0000
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