A Grand Bay man who claims to be mentally ill told a Roseau Magistrate that his mother and stepfather were the ones to blame for an incident in which he battered a police officer at the Princess Margaret Hospital last weekend.
Thirty-year-old Marlon Charles Stewart pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and battery on police on Tuesday. Stewart told Magistrate Gloria Augustus that his stepfather and his mother were “taking him for a little boy” which angered him and caused him to beat Constable J Maxwell with his bag.
According to the facts of the case, presented by Chief Prosecutor Inspector Claude Weekes, “At about 5:30 p.m. Constable J Maxwell was on duty at the PMH dressed in uniform. While at the PMH he heard a loud commotion coming from the casualty area….The police officer responded.
He met the defendant. He was speaking very loudly and displaying a spirit of aggression, using profanities and at the same time making serious threats,” the prosecutor said.
Constable Maxwell approached the defendant and advised him to control his behavior. Stewart then became more violent and the officer told him that he would have to take him to police headquarters, the prosecutor said.
“The defendant responded very violently…At the time he was carrying a bag so he used it to release his fuel on the police officer” Weekes informed.
Security officers had to come to the officer’s rescue. The defendant was later subdued and taken to the police station, the prosecutor said.
“Sorry officer, sorry officer,” Stewart told Officer Maxwell while at the station.
In mitigation, the defendant explained that he was mentally ill and had gone to the hospital to get his pills for that ailment.
“My stepfather, my mother boyfriend, he want to be hustling me like a little baby. The pills not ready yet so I go and take a walk in the hospital. He following me all where I going, so I must make noise… so I cannot take a walk in the hospital then?…He want to be holding me like a little boy. Mister making me more vile, so I hit him a thump in his head,” Stewart said.’
For the charge of battery, Magistrate Augustus ordered the defendant to serve a suspended sentence of three months for up to one year. This means that if the defendant gets into any trouble with the law within one year, he will serve a three month prison sentence.
The defendant agreed and revealed that he had just successfully served a suspended sentence, which he completed in December last year.
“I just pass one so. I was on one year and I didn’t do nothing. December just pass. I wouldn’t do nothing man,” he assured the Magistrate.
Before releasing the defendant Magistrate Augustus warned him to take his medication and stay out if trouble.
Stewart was reprimanded for the resisting arrest charge.
Are all these … smoking the same .. drugs? These men are just little boys. They are clearly unable to control themselves or take responsibility for their actions. Is it a full moon down there? It looks like it will be a busy year for the judiciary, it seems long over due that these little prix’s be picked up and locked up.
Anyone want to build a new prison?
I am tired of hearing police officers were the victims of battery.This is now becoming a big joke.During the recruitment phase,there must be certain qualities which a recruit must possess,or else………..
Honestly it is now becoming an embarrassment.
Well Said LMAO!
However we should seek ways in mitigating situations like this and others by being proactive.
The case seems to have been dealt with in a timely manner and justice from a legal point was handed down.
We need to ask is this the beginning or the end or the continuation of worst to come.
Now base on the information provided (another ‘running with the law’) we can testify that the system is flawed and do little to prevent the repetition of such act.
There should be a holistic approach(social, legal, spiritual and medical) to situation like this and many other, in other to realize an objective of a save lawful isle of beauty and splendor, sweet and fair.
We all have a duty of protecting the preserving the peace and tranquility of our beloved country.
The man is mentally ill, he needs help, not a jail sentence. Guys build a real mental home/hospital for the people. Get them a real doctor (…. is a waste of time), he looks like he needs to spend some time in a mental home as a patient. Use our natural resources as healing powers to get the people back to a level of sanity, damn Man.
What about this man’s mental problem? Was it swept under the rug for three months
Give me a break. When are they going to realize that mental illness is a disease
like any othe disease. Do you think it is that easy for him to go home and stay out of trouble if he really has a mental problem?
i guess these days people seem to forget that that the penalties are not issued to the reason for aggression, but rather the ACT of aggression.
it is so sad that society seems to dismiss the victims and their pain, because of reasons. whatever the reason, does it change the fact that a police officer was assulted?
PEACE!!!