Maraval man charged with resisting arrest

A 21-year-old Maraval man appeared before a Port of Spain magistrate this morning to face five charges, including three counts of assaulting a police officer, arising from an incident last Thursday.

Jamal Baptiste appeared before magistrate Sanara Toon-McQuilkin in the Port of Spain Magistrates' Third Court.

He was charged with using obscene language, resisting arrest and assaulting officers Seelal, Gill and Medera, when he tried to stop police from arresting his brother at Boissiere Village, Maraval.

Baptiste originally pleaded guilty to all five charges, but later changed his plea to not guilty of assault and resisting arrest.

Complainant Cpl Charles Budri presented medical certificates proving the officers suffered injuries from the confrontation, but only those of Seelal and Gill were tendered as evidence, as Medera's certificate had not been signed by a doctor.

Toon-McQuilkin fined Baptiste $100 for using obscene language and granted him bail with surety of $20,000 for the other offences.

She also warned Baptiste that while obscene language may seem like a light offence, people have been imprisoned for it, and urged him to stay away from the police he reportedly assaulted.

"Sir, the officers who are the virtual complainants in this matter – try and stay away from them, because if they come and tell the court you interfered with them in any way, I will have to reconsider this bail I granted you."

Baptiste is to reappear in court on February 12.