Following a confrontation over a box of mosquito coils, a man has been charged with assaulting a city constable and obstructing a roadway.
Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday heard the matter of Rickford McKenzie who the police alleged assaulted City Constable, Marsha Seers on September 6 at Water Street.
It is also alleged that on the said day and at the same location, McKenzie caused an obstruction on the roadway with a large box of the mosquito coils.
The defendant pleaded guilty to the first allegation and a not guilty plea was entered to the second.
According to the defendant, on the day in question he was selling the coils and had his head down when he felt his box being pulled away.
He said that he reflexively pulled back at the box and looked up to see that it was a city police officer. He stated that the officer snatched him by his hair and slapped him and he slapped her back.
The 21-year-old added that he was not obstructing traffic while he was on the roadway contrary to what the city police officer suggested in the charge.
Subsequent to his explanation a not guilty plea was entered by the Magistrate on the assault charge.
City Police Prosecutor Collin Douglas made no objection to bail.
Bail was later granted in the sum of $40,000, $20,000 for each charge.
The matter was adjourned to October 5 where it would be heard by Magistrate Annette Singh in Court 10.
