A woman accused of obstructing police ranks in the execution of their duties was released on $30,000 bail when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Forty-eight-year-old Emma Harvey appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty who read the charge to her. It is alleged that on November 21st at Agricola, Harvey obstructed Police Constable 18185 Thomas, a peace officer, from acting in the performance of his job.
Harvey, who the court heard looks after her young nieces and nephews, was present when three young were being arrested and allegedly intervened by telling a party of police officers not to arrest the trio. Her attorney, Paul Fung-A-Fat, told the court that the woman was not obstructing the police. In his application for bail, he said that a woman who looks after children who are not her own is doing a good job and should be granted bail so she could continue looking after the children.
However, the prosecutor told the court that the address the men were being arrested at was far from the woman’s Lot 97 Remus Street, Agricola home. This was used to highlight that Harvey was not supposed to be present where the arrest was taking place. It was further stated that if she “looks after children,” Harvey should have been looking after the children and not intruding on police officers executing their duty.
“You so passionate for the public that you left where you living to go and obstruct not only one police, but a party of police,” the prosecutor said. The prosecutor later objected to bail, stating that persons do not respect the police when they are doing their job. The prosecutor added that it is not the first time a civilian has intervened when the police were trying to do their job and an example needs to be set for the public.
Fung-A-Fat then told the court that Harvey had been in custody for seven days. With this information, the magistrate released the woman on $30,000 bail. Harvey was also placed on a bond to keep the peace until the trial is completed.
