(Jamaica Gleaner) International dancehall artiste Mavado is scheduled to appear in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate Court on August 8 to answer criminal charges laid against him, following an incident in which two men were assaulted.
Thirty-year-old Mavado – born David Brooks – whose address police listed as West Armour Heights, Kingston 8, was arrested and charged yesterday for assault occasioning bodily harm and malicious destruction of property.
He was also given station bail in connection with the incident.
Police reports state that, about 7 p.m. on July 22, Brooks allegedly assaulted a man and damaged his Toyota Camry motor vehicle along the Belmont main road in St James.
The complainant allegedly stopped along the main road to allow a line of traffic to pass when Brooks and members of his entourage attacked him and his son.
The complainant sustained injuries to his back, leg and forehead.
‘Outta’ proportion
Minutes after his arrest, a different picture was painted on the AllianceJamaica Twitter page, which acts as a public relations tool for Mavado and mentor Bounty Killer.
“Mavado reported to station, was charged with malicious destruction of property and assault and bailed immediately for a later court date,” one tweet stated.
“Nobody got chopped, nobody teeth lick out. All of this way outta (out of) proportion. We shoulder sum (some) blame but there is more to this than cops/media sayin(g).”
Another man, whom it is alleged attempted to bribe the complainant on Tuesday in Montego Bay, was taken into custody by members of the Anti-Corruption Branch. The man, a popular Montego Bay-based party promoter, was found in possession of some $500,000 and a licensed firearm. He is to be charged with perverting the course of justice.
“Nobody was trying to buy out any case either,” read another tweet from AllianceJamaica.
Mavado’s arrest comes on the heels of a successful performance by the entertainer at the 2011 staging of Reggae Sumfest last Thursday night, and less than a month after his United States visa was returned to him.
There was no large gathering awaiting Mavado outside the Montego Bay Freeport Police Station, as he was whisked away in a waiting Honda Edix minivan.