Cop testifies to recognizing suspect at bar

A police officer today testified that he was able to identify Adrian Fitzgerald Bradshaw seconds before he ran away and escaped apprehension in Blades Hill No. 2, St Philip, on September 15, 2016.

However, Police Constable Markinson Chandler told the No. 2 Supreme Court he arrested Bradshaw at a Maxwell, Christ Church bar later that same day.

Chandler was one of two witnesses who gave evidence today when the weapons and drug trial of Bradshaw and Brian Barry King continued.

Bradshaw and King are jointly charged with possession of a .357 revolver, a .22 revolver and a 9 mm pistol along with 678 rounds of ammunition on September 15, 2016.

They are also charged with possession and trafficking 37.9 kilogrammes of cannabis.

The matter is being heard by Justice Randall Worrell.

Bradshaw is representing himself while King is being represented by Dr Lenda Blackman. Senior Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas is appearing on behalf of the Crown.

Under examination by Thomas, Chandler said he was attached to the Tactical Response Unit in 2016. He recounted that around 4:50 p.m. on that date he travelled to Blades Hill in the company of other officers as a result of information received.

While travelling along a cart road, Chandler said he saw a silver pickup travelling on an adjacent road. He said the vehicle went behind some houses and they lost sight of it.

Chandler said he and the other officers got out of the vehicle and ran to the rear of the houses where the truck went and they saw it parked. He said outside was well lit and he had an unobstructed view.

The officer recounted that the left rear door was open and he saw the partial body of someone in the vehicle. That person, he said, was wearing black shoes, blue three-quarter pants, a red and blue shirt and a black cap.

He said he was about 20 metres away when the person looked in his direction and he realized it was Bradshaw.

Chandler said Bradshaw quickly ran off and was pursued, but escaped after running over a cliff and through a gully.

The police officer said he observed a number of white feed bags in the rear of the pickup when he returned to the scene.

Chandler said around 10:25 p.m., based on information received, he went to De Nest Bar and Hideaway in Maxwell, Christ Church. Upon entering, he said he saw Bradshaw lying on the floor wearing the same clothes from earlier in the day.

He said when Bradshaw was informed of the police’s suspicion he replied, “You mean me? I ain’t run from police. I was by this bar the whole day chilling.”

Under cross-examination by Bradshaw, Chandler admitted he did not see the accused put anything into the pickup or take anything out.

Bradshaw also maintained that the officer could not have seen him in Blades Hill because he was not there.

Also taking the stand was Station Sergeant Duane Griffith who testified that he took samples from vegetable matter contained in 53 packages which were recovered from four polythene bags and one haversack.

He said those samples were then sent to the forensic lab for testing. Griffith told the court the samples were confirmed to be cannabis.