Two men charged with assaulting police have been ordered to stay away from lawmen on duty unless they are in need of help.
That was one of the bail conditions imposed by Magistrate Kim Butcher on 19-year-old Aaron Theodore Straughan and 52-year-old Febston Theodore Nurse, both of Burkes Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael, when they appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court for offences allegedly committed last Friday against lawmen attached to the Hastings/Worthing Police Station.
The teenager is accused of assaulting and resisting Sergeant Frank Olton in the execution of his duties as well as destroying a pair of glasses belonging to the officer, intending to destroy such property or was reckless as to whether it would be destroyed.
He is also charged with assaulting Constable Dwayne Howard as he performed his duties as well as assaulting civilian Juamane Daniel causing him actual bodily harm.
Nurse, meanwhile, is accused of obstructing and assaulting Constable Howard as well as resisting Sergeant Olton in the execution of their duties.
Both accused pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read by the magistrate.
Prosecuting Constable Ralph Rollock objected to bail on several grounds, saying that the allegations before the court were serious and should be “frowned” upon.
“It appears now that every time the police are doing their work, we have people who intend to prevent the police from doing what they are doing,” Rollock submitted, even as he conceded that the accused were not known to the court.
Making reference to Straughan and the strength of the evidence against him, the prosecutor said the accused had several charges levelled against him.
“Police doing what they are doing and the accused man allegedly made it his business to disrupt what the police are doing. Not only that, [he] allegedly injured police and then destroyed stuff belonging to the police which [amounted] to almost $1 400,” Constable Rollock said.
“The court has to frown on this type of behaviour and let the public understand when the police are carrying out their duties they must do so in a sense of comfort and safety and not be obstructed and assaulted by members of the public.”
However, in his application for bail, the teen told Magistrate Butcher he was “out there trying to get some work. I help my mother as much as I can”.
In Nurse’s case, Rollock said the allegations against him were serious.
“We need to protect members of the police department when they are doing their work. Police out there trying to serve and protect and instead of being given the opportunity to serve and protect they are harassed, they are assaulted, they are obstructed, sometimes beaten, property damaged,” the prosecutor contended.
Arguing for a chance at bail, Nurse questioned the prosecutor’s objection to his released based on the seriousness of the matter.
“How serious is serious?” he questioned as he stated that the offence was not so serious that he should be denied bail.
“I have responsibilities. I am a father. I have the responsibility of the house and my children depend on me. They don’t work. I have to take care of everything,” added Nurse, who said his three children were all in their 20s.
Considering the applications, Magistrate Butcher stated that any offence involving the police or members of the public was serious.
She told the accused that based on the fact that they were not known to the court, they would be allowed bail. However, she warned them against racking up additional charges.
The accused were granted bail in the sum of $4 000 each with one surety.
In addition to having to keep their distance from lawmen unless it is necessary for them to interact, the two were ordered to report to Central Police Station once a week before 9 a.m. Nurse will report on Fridays and Straughan on Mondays.
They are to return to court on September 14.
