Police Inspector Nigel Butcher attacked

Two Barrouallie men are counting their lucky stars that they are alive and well, after they attacked an armed Inspector of Police last Sunday in Kingstown.{{more}}

Liubanskie Cuffy, 27, pleaded guilty to assault, offensive weapon possession and resisting arrest. He was charged $250 and placed on two six-month bond sentences, with a fine of $2,500 or six months’ imprisonment default penalty for each.

His accomplice, Conrad Cuffy 25, also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and possession of an offensive weapon and was charged similarly: $250 or six months in prison and a six-month bond with $2,500 or six month in prison if he defaults.

Both men reportedly received a serious tongue lashing from Senior Magistrate Donald Browne at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court last Tuesday, June 16th, for their actions.

Wary of the negative press that has been following the police in recent times, police prosecutor Nigel Butcher put his life in danger, as he practiced restraint in dealing with the two men, in an incident that occurred at about 10pm on June 14th.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that Butcher had just left police headquarters on Bay Street and was driving in the direction of the cenotaph when he saw two well dressed young men behaving in a disorderly manner.

The two were reportedly noisily blocking the street, and Butcher said he called out to them and told them to get out of the road and behave themselves appropriately.

It is reported that the two then began verbally abusing Butcher, who parked his vehicle, came out, identified himself as a police officer to the men and attempted once again to get them to calm down.

The young men didn’t take nicely to this, SEARCHLIGHT understands, and motioned to pelt bottles they were carrying as they unleashed a barrage of expletives. Liubanskie had a champagne bottle, while Conrad had two beer bottles.

According to reports, one told the other “Buss the man (expletive) head,” and even after Butcher informed the men that they were under arrest, they were urging each other to attack him and continued to “grand-charge” him.

It was then that the Sentry officer on duty at the Police headquarters saw what was happening, and alerted another officer who went to Butcher’s aid.

The men were arrested.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that when the two appeared in court they showed remorse and told the court that they were intoxicated when the incident occurred.

They had just come from a wedding.

When SEARCHLIGHT spoke to Inspector Butcher he said that while he felt that he was in imminent danger when the young men were charging, and urging each other to attack him, he was desperately trying to avoid harming them.

He told SEARCHLIGHT that he realized that they were drunk and were unaware of the danger they were putting themselves in by attacking him.

One person who witnessed the incident reportedly told Butcher “You have more faith than Job,” suspecting that he was armed.