Attorney says man lost teeth in reported family brawl with cops
Published:Saturday | July 23, 2022 | 12:08 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
A 22-year-old farmer who reportedly injured a police officer’s hand during a fight in downtown Montego Bay, St James, was offered bail on Friday.
Brian Clarke, who is of a Sunderland address, is charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
While the date of the alleged incident was not disclosed, the court was told that Clarke and some of his family members got into a confrontation with police officers in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay.
During an ensuing fight, one police officer’s hand was broken.
Clarke and another relative, Jantay Johnson, were taken into custody and charged with unlawful wounding. However, the charge was later reduced to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
During Friday’s court proceedings, Clarke’s attorney, Henry McCurdy, told presiding parish judge Sasha Ashley that his client had received no medical attention for his injuries even though the injured officer was attended to.
“We do not suspect it, we know it, that he was kicked and beaten and several of his teeth are missing. What is strange is that the men were held in custody while the officer received medical attention, and they said they are not talking to the police until they get medical attention,” said McCurdy.
“The issue is that he (Clarke) reportedly gave an incorrect surname and so he was not eligible for station bail, but I will offer him bail, as the attorney has made an application based on humanitarian grounds,” Judge Ashley replied.
Clarke was subsequently offered bail in the sum of $200,000 with two sureties and instructed to report to the police three times weekly.
His next court appearance will be on July 27.