A 35-year-old resident of Gorse has been fined for assaulting a prosecutor and inspector of police causing actual bodily harm and resisting the arrest of the said officer.
Andrew Pompey pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the charges, which arose from an incident that began during a boat ride from Bequia to Kingstown on Sunday, when the officer, Renrick Cato, 45, was on duty.
Pompey, however, pleaded not guilty to an indecent language charge and is to be tried for that offence.
The facts of the case are that on Sunday, about 5:30 p.m., Cato and other police officers were providing security on a boat ride from Bequia to St. Vincent.
He was wearing a black shirt with “SVG Police” printed on it.
Whilst on the boat, Cato settled an argument when the defendant approached him cursing a lot of obscene language.
Cato pointed out the offence of indecent language to Pompey and told him he could be arrested for such an offence.
The defendant walked away.
After the boat docked at the Kingstown Wharf, Pompey approached Cato and said, “Yo war f***ing lock me up now?”
Cato pointed out the offence of making use of indecent language to Pompey and informed him that he was arresting him for that offence.
Pompey held onto Cato’s hand forcefully and began boxing him on his head and face.
He then held Cato in a crouching position.
Cato had his service pistol in his waist and pulled it out and pointed it towards the sea and fired it once.
Other officers assisted Cato who reported the matter to the police at the Criminal Investigation Department.
PC 927 Patrick conducted an investigation, which included Cato being examined by a medical doctor.
On Tuesday, Pompey admitted under caution that he assaulted Cato and resisted his arrest.
Pompey told the court that he agreed with the facts presented by the prosecution and that the caution statement read in court was the one he gave to the police.
Senior Magistrate Colin John fined Pompey EC$250 each on the resisting arrest and assault charges and ordered him to pay Cato EC$500 in compensation.
Asked if he had the money to pay immediately, Pompey told the court that his sister was outside.
The magistrate ordered Pompey to pay the sums immediately or go to prison for three months on both charges.
He adjourned and transferred the indecent language charge to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court for trial on Sept. 9.
You can’t be fined people for cursing the f word. People should have the freedom of speech as long as it not a threat to do harm.
The law is the law. I was presant when the incident occured Mr Pompey was extremely disrespectful and arrogant to say the least and if Mr Cato was a different person he would have been shot because look at the defendant size one box could have killed him or cause serious damages
and who do speak more swear words than them? well ask the fish head..
Smh.
Was the defendant right to disturb the public peace? Was he right to strike the officer first?
I was there and that officer did not use any swear words so “Take warning” stop assuming. He commited several offences and he is being made to pay for them. Its comments like these that causes a lot of violence in our blessed land. Time for us to embrace love and move away from arrogance.
Cunning Bird, I said Them , I did not say Him /He ( please get your singular and plural correct)