Men charged, remanded over assault of traffic cop
The two men caught on camera assaulting a police traffic officer yesterday appeared in court on several charges and were remanded to prison.
Kessee Edwards, 30, of Friendship and Mark Cromwell called ‘Diamond’, a 41-year-old businessman of Lot 40 Vigilance appeared in the
Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court separately before Magistrate Russell Liverpool, where the charges were read to them relating to the May 5 incident.
Edwards was charged with assault with intent to prevent lawful apprehension, the use of abusive language, disorderly behaviour, dangerous driving, leaving a motor vehicle in a dangerous position, driving an unlicensed motor vehicle, driving an uncertified motor vehicle, failing to comply with the police, prohibition of tinted glass and also failure to wear a seat belt.
Cromwell, an ex-police officer who Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said was arrested yesterday at the Ogle International Airport attempting to flee the country, was charged with assault with intent to prevent lawful apprehension, abusive language and disorderly
behaviour.
Bail was refused due to the gravity of the case and both men were remanded until May 17.
Reports are that on the day in question, about 16:45 hrs at Plaisance Railway Embankment, Constable Harlequin approached a vehicle that
was heavily tinted, and driven by Edwards.
Edwards was asked to take the vehicle to the Sparendaam Police Station for inspection but allegedly sped off, driving over the foot of the officer.
Constable Harlequin gave chase and intercepted the vehicle at Turkeyen access road (in the vicinity of MovieTowne).
Edwards then reportedly exited his vehicle, approached Constable Harlequin and told him
that someone called ‘Demon’ was on the phone while using a series of expletives.
Soon, another man dressed in a green shirt and short black pants drove up. He also verbally abused the policeman and the confrontation moved from verbal to physical, the police said.
A former policeman who was passing by went to Constable Harlequin’s rescue and Edwards was arrested.