BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – KEITHROY DUNCAN of Shadwell Estate was on Monday (June 20) fined EC$2 000 for supplying and possession of crack cocaine, obstruction, resisting arrest and beating a police officer.
The court was told that Duncan committed the offences on Sunday, January 31, 2010 while in a yard at Upper College Street, Basseterre.
According to the facts of the case, on the day in question, police had responded to a report of an incident in Upper College Street.
On arrival, one of the officers had observed Duncan digging a hole in a yard in which he placed an object that the lawman thought was a firearm.
The officer also observed that Duncan had carefully covered the hole with dirt.
Consequently, the officer ordered him to “freeze”, and on uncovering the hole found that it contained a match box with nine small pieces of crack cocaine, EC$450 and US$6.
On discovery of the illegal drugs, the officer told Duncan that he was under arrest and he attempted to flee the scene.
It was alleged that the officer attempted to restrain Duncan but he resisted and a fight ensued between the two men, with the convicted man having the upper hand.
Another officer went to his fellow lawman’s rescue and together they subdued Duncan.
However, when Duncan appeared before Her Worship Josephine Mallalieu-Webbe at the Basseterre Magistrate’s Court on Monday, he denied assaulting the officer and claimed that he was taken to Camp Springfield and beaten by the officers.
He was found guilty on all charges and fined EC$2 000 to be paid in one month. Failure to comply with the court order will result in him having to serve three months in prison with hard labour.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered that the EC$450 and the US$6 be forfeited.
