Ian Thorn, the Chairman of a Community Policing Group, was yesterday charged with assaulting two children, including a 10-year-old boy, whom he allegedly handcuffed after finding him in his yard.
The courtroom of Magistrate Renita Singh yesterday heard that on September 3rd, at Sunflower Street, South Ruimveldt, Thorn, of 22 South Ruimveldt Park Georgetown, caused grievous bodily harm to a 10-year-old boy and unlawfully assaulted his sister, who is 14-years-old.
Thorn pleaded not guilty to the charges and was placed on $45,000 bail.
Police Prosecutor Suraj Singh told the court that the boy and the defendant’s son were playing football together. After a game, the prosecutor said, the defendant’s son took the boy’s ball back to his house. After a few minutes, the boy observed that Thorn and his family left their premises and so he ventured into the yard to retrieve his ball.
According to the prosecutor, the accused returned home shortly after and found the boy in his yard. Singh said that Thorn reprimanded the child, handcuffed him and dragged him out of the yard. At that time, the 10-year-old’s sister and mother went to his aid and an argument ensued between them and Thorn. The accused, during the argument, allegedly pushed the boy’s sister. The prosecutor said that a report was subsequently made to the police.
The magistrate became visibly upset after she was told that the accused placed handcuffs on the 10-year-old. “Are you crazy? Why did you put a handcuff on a ten-year-old? That boy is not capable of committing any crime,” the magistrate said, reprimanding the man.
Thorn, who sought to explain the situation, was rebuffed by the magistrate, who told him to save his explanation for trial.
She placed him on $30,000 bail on the charge of harming the 10-year-old and $15,000 bail on the charge that he assaulted the boy’s sister. The matter was then adjourned until October 5th.
