Two St Michael men have one week to pay separate fines to the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court if they want to avoid spending time in prison.
They are 34-year-old vendor Darrin DeCourcey Harewood and 43-year-old spray painter Ryan Oneal Morris both of Godding’s Road.
Harewood pleaded guilty to obstructing Sergeant Ewin Norville on September 30 while Morris admitted to using abusive language towards the officer and causing a disturbance while at Pirate’s Cove beach on the same day.
Acting Station Sergeant Cameron Gibbons told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant the officer was on duty in the area when he approached both men after noticing the smell of burnt cannabis coming from their location.
As he drew near Morris addressed him with a string of profanity which caused a crowd to gather.
As the officer came closer to speak with Morris, Harewood stepped in between the two resulting in the obstructing charge.
“I didn’t realise that the gentleman was an officer . . . If I knew he was an officer I wouldn’t have behaved that way,” Morris told the magistrate, while Harewood said: “I was simply trying to cool down my friend here from acting up. If I offended the officer in any way I apologise.”
After addressing the court Harewood was fined $500 which must be paid in one week or spend an alternative of two months in prison while Morris was fined $450 in one week or spend an alternative of six weeks in prison.
Morris was also placed on a bond to be on his best behaviour for 12 months which, if breached, will result in him having to pay the court $1,500 forthwith or three months in prison.
Both men are to return to the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court on October 8 to show proof of payment.
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