CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – A Spring Hill resident was fined a total of $1 500 on Tuesday (June 30) at the Charlestown Magistrate’s Court for resisting arrest and wounding a police officer.

Sherlon James, who appeared before Magistrate Yasmin Clarke, has three months to pay the fines or spend a similar time behind bars. 

The two charges were part of seven brought against James after an incident at Dix Bar in Brick Kiln on May 30, 2009. He was originally charged with refusing to give his name to officers, refusing to give his address, two counts of resisting arrest, two counts of battery, wounding an officer of the law and beating an officer of the law. 

Magistrate Clarke however said there was no evidence to prove that James resisted arrest by Officer Isaac or any evidence to show that he did beat the officer. She also stated there was not sufficient evidence to prove that he refused to give his name or address in Brick Kiln.

The Court was told how an altercation occurred on the day in question while James was at Dix Bar in Brick Kiln. Officer Isaac testified that the defendant was behaving in a violent manner and he [James] pushed him when he approached him. Isaac told the court he was afraid and called for assistance from Corporal Caines. 

Caines told the court that he went to assist Officer Isaac and, since the defendant was behaving badly, he had to use his baton, hitting the defendant four times causing him to fall to the ground. The officer said the defendant attacked him again when they reached the police vehicle, hitting him in his mouth. Caines hit him in the forehead with the baton and he started bleeding. The police said James was placed in the vehicle where another confrontation took place and he was then taken to the hospital.

James, who conducted his own defence, told the Court that he did refuse to pay and he was not behaving in a violent manner. He said the officers’ stories were not consistent and they were lying. James said he was not asked his name at any time and claimed that he was beaten and threatened with death by Officer Caines. 

“They beat me, and Officer Caines threatened to kill me. He also reminded me that he had killed someone in Jessups before and he put his gun in my waist to threaten me. When I reach to the hospital he ask my name and I told him I have nothing to say to him because he had threaten me.”

James was convicted and fined $500 for resisting arrest and $1 000 for injuring an officer of the law. 

In the same court, Marlon Tyrel of Clay Ghaut pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and possession with intent to supply. He was fined $ 5 000 which must be paid in three months or he will spend 12 months in prison for the charge of possession with intent to supply. No fine was imposed for the possession charge.