Gary Grant, a prisoner who police say escaped custody at the Stabroek Police Outpost last Thursday, was yesterday faced with four charges.
Grant appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in a city court, where the charges were read against him.
The first charge read to him stated that on September 19th, in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market, Georgetown, he stole a cellphone, valued $35,000, from Nadina Maloney. He denied this allegation.
The second charge stated that on the same day, while in lawful custody at the Stabroek Police Outpost for the offence of simple larceny, he escaped. Grant denied this allegation as well.
The third charge stated that on the same day and at the same location, he damaged a pair of handcuffs and light switches, among other items, which were all the property of the Guyana Police Force with a total value of $39,300. This allegation was also denied.
The last charge against Grant stated that on the same day, at the Stabroek Police outpost, he behaved disorderly.
Grant once again denied the charge.
Addressing the court, Grant said “the Officer lash me in me head and I can’t remember.” The man, who also told the magistrate that he needed a mental evaluation, also claimed that the name he was charged under was not his and that he did not know how he was being charged if that was not his name.
Police prosecutor Analisa Brumell objected to Grant being released on bail based due to the nature of the offences. She also expressed her doubts about Grant’s honesty to the court. She explained that he would have told ranks at the police outpost that he was 41-years-old but yesterday he told the court that he was 25-years-old before changing his answer to 45.
The magistrate eventually decided to refuse bail to Grant and she adjourned the proceedings until October 7th, when she hopes to have statements and a full report on the matter.
It was reported that Grant was arrested last Thursday after a report was made of a cellphone being stolen by him. While he was being kept in custody at the Stabroek Police Outpost he used a cutlass to free himself from the handcuffs as only one hand was cuffed to a wall inside the outpost. He then made good his escape after he used the same cutlass to scare the officer who was on duty at the time. He was eventually captured by ranks who were sent out on patrol after he made his escape.
