Sandy Bay man to pay or go to jail

Evans Nanton, a labourer of Sandy Bay, was given until November 18 to pay a fine of $250 or spend three months in jail. He pleaded guilty to the charge of wounding a police officer when he appeared before Senior Magistrate, Carl Joseph last Monday at the Magistrates’ Court in Kingstown. {{more}}

His charge stemmed from an incident on October 14, at approximately 5 p.m. at Little Tokyo. The Prosecution told the court that the defendant was in a dispute involving other persons when an officer dressed in plain clothes went to calm Nanton down. The officer identified himself to the defendant as an officer dressed in plain clothing. Nanton became annoyed with the officer and grabbed him by the shirt causing it to be damaged, and smacked him across his face, resulting in a wound to the officer’s lip. He was then taken to the Central Police Station where he was arrested and charged.

When questtioned by Magistrate Joseph as to why he hit the officer, he replied saying, “After I geh drunk I do’ know myself and de police dem arrest me.”

However, a bond was imposed on him for one year in the sum of $200 or two months imprisonment. He also has to pay $80 compensation for damage to the officer’s shirt.