A man arrested for being drunk in public was jailed this morning after refusing to go through the drug court programme.

Omar Young, 43, pleaded guilty to both being drunk and incapable and violently resisting arrest in an incident on April 4.

The court had heard that at around 1pm that day, a manager at the Maximart in Sandys was told that there was a man in the store’s parking lot who was annoying customers and appeared to be impaired.

When the manager looked out, he saw Young drinking a can of Steel Reserve and washing his face with the beer. Young was also reportedly shouting loudly at people in the area.

Police were called but before the officers arrived on the scene Young was seen fighting with another man.

When police arrived, they confronted Young who smelled strongly of alcohol. They attempted to arrest him, but he began to struggle, grabbing the handcuffs.

During the ensuing scuffle, both Young and an officer fell to the ground, knocking over parked motorcycles. The officers used Captor spray and later a Taser on Young before they were able to detain him.

While Young had asked the courts for community service, reports had said he was not a suitable candidate.

And while senior magistrate Juan Wolffe repeatedly suggested that Young would be a suitable candidate for drug treatment court, he refused saying that he did not have a drug problem.

“If you want the help of the court, the court will help you,” Mr Wolffe said. “I’m trying to offer you help to keep you from going to prison and you are slapping me in the face.

“If that is the choice you want, I will give it to you.”

Mr Wolffe sentenced Young to 30 days in prison for both offences, ordering that the sentences run concurrently.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.