Bequia man slapped with seven charges

A Bequia resident, who has alleged that on two occasions he was beaten by the police, was on Wednesday slapped with seven charges at the Serious Offences Court.{{more}}

Shemroy Stowe of Friendship, Bequia now faces two counts of resisting arrest, two counts of assaulting a police officer, one count of possession of a controlled drug and two counts of indecent language.

Stowe is charged that on November 1, 2016 at Friendship, Bequia, he did assault and resist the arrest of Denvern Da Souza PC258, he being a police officer acting in the due execution of his duty.

He is also charged that on that same day and place, he did assault and resist the arrest of Kendrick Scarborough Cpl 544, he being a police officer acting in due execution of his duty.

Stowe is also charged that on November 1, 2016 at Friendship he had in his possession a controlled drug, to wit 45 grams of cannabis with intent to supply it to another.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of $6,000 with one surety.

The matter is adjourned to January 30, 2017. Until then, Stowe is to report to the Port Elizabeth Police Station on Mondays and Thursdays, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

While his bail was being processed at the court on Wednesday, Stowe received the two additional charges of insultive language for uttering the words “Two ah you ah some p**sy” to both police officers in a public place, to wit Port Elizabeth that same day.

Stowe was granted bail in the sum of $1,500 with one surety for the additional charges. These matters would be heard next Friday, November 25, 2016 at the Bequia Magistrate’s Court.

Last week, before being charged, Stowe, 33, spoke with SEARCHLIGHT from his bed at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, where he alleged that on the previous weekend, he was jumped, beaten, and a gun was pointed at him by police officers. That account was published in our edition of Tuesday, November 22.

On August 10, Stowe had appeared before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court with a swollen face, charged with assaulting a police officer.

However, when he spoke to SEARCHLIGHT after he was granted bail on that occasion, he said he was the victim, not the aggressor, in an incident that took place on Tuesday, August 9, as he made his way to Port Elizabeth, Bequia.

During the interview, SEARCHLIGHT observed that Stowe’s face was swollen, he had dried blood on his shirt, his shoulder and elbow were bruised, his lip was burst and he complained about pains in his jaw and the back of his head.

The Bequia man was granted $2,000 bail and the matter was adjourned and transferred to Bequia for August 25, 2016.

However, when he spoke to SEARCHLIGHT last week, Stowe said the case was dismissed after the police officer failed to show up in court.

“I fed up of it, I fed up complain. I just like leave it alone… but the man them serious; if they meet me anywhere by myself I feel they would really mess me up, you know.”

Stowe said he has not been able to go to Police Public Relations and Complaints Department, adding that he has not received a medical report form from the police.

Lawyer Grant Connell is representing him. (AS)