Detectives are questioning a Sandys man who chopped a Policeman on the top of the head with a machete causing a four inch gash, and multiple cuts to the abdomen.

The Commissioner of Police Jonathan Smith issued a statement yesterday, praising the courage of his officers, saying: "Once again, one of our officer's personal safety has been seriously threatened in the lawful execution of his duty. Last night the Policeman was in stable condition in a general ward of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. His injuries ? including a five to six inch gash to the head ? are not life threatening.

The hero cop and his partner went to a Sound View Road home around 10.35 Sunday night and talked to a woman who said her 47-year-old partner had damaged a TV and mirror and had left the building.

At that moment, the officers heard noises outside and found the man brandishing the machete and demanding they leave his property. He charged at them, attacked the officer and was in a short stand-off with two other officers before running off.

A search ensued, but the man later turned himself in. "The courage our officers continue to show is commendable," Mr. Smith said. "The spontaneous and explosive nature of this incident hammers home just how rapidly violence can can escalate.

"I sincerely appreciate, as the rest of Bermuda should, the hard work of the Police Officers as they carry out their responsibilities under difficult circumstances. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the officer as we wish him a full and complete recovery."

Woman arrested with 'sizeable' amount of drugs

Police Officers who arrested an 18-year-old Pembroke woman for carrying a "sizeable" amount of drugs in the basket of her motorcycle found themselves besieged by a group of thugs throwing bottles early Sunday morning.

Around 12.40 a.m. on Sunday the Police Support Unit on mobile patrol attended Fenton's Drive in Pembroke. The officers arrested the 18 year old woman for an outstanding warrant and searched the basket of the motorcycle she was sitting on where she had stashed the drugs.

While carrying out the arrest unknown individuals in the vicinity threw bottles at the Police. A short time later a back-up unit arrived, however, the individuals got away from the area prior to their arrival. No officers were injured as a result.

Five people arrested for suspicion of impaired driving over the weekend and there were 11 incidents of breaking and entering, the Police Service has reported.

Police Media Relations said yesterday there were five break-ins in Pembroke, four in Warwick, one in Smith's and one in Paget. There were 17 damage only collisions and 11 collisions resulting in injury.

Anglican Church Canon Alan Tilson's controversial departure from the Holy Trinity Church in Hamilton has resulted in a search for a new rector.

The search committee, which is chaired by Archdeacon Andrew Doughty, is known as the search committee of the Synod.

"It consists of the Archdeacon, the church wardens of the parish, a clergy representative and a lay representative from another parish," Rev. Doughty said. "The process is all laid out by the constitution of the Anglican Church of Bermuda."

Rev. Doughty said they're just beginning the process of finding Canon Tilson's replacement. "It usually takes anywhere from three to nine months but it depends entirely on how things go and whether there is a suitable Bermudian to be appointed to the parish," he said.

In the meantime all the clergy of the Island and the lay people of the Holy Trinity are helping out at the church to ensure the ministry and services continue.

A battle for control of the Non-Mariner's race erupted last night with the emergence of a shadowy group claiming it stole the winner's trophy to protest the race being "rigged" in favour of perennial winners White Heron Team.

A woman issued a claim to having stolen the Non-Mariner's trophy shortly after the race two weeks ago, saying she took the brass spigot in protest of the "corrupt" contest which has seen the White Heron team "win" for 20 years in a row.

Known only as "Lola" and taking extraordinary measures to protect her identity, the woman said last week: "This is rigged! I was at the race during the presentations and it just came to me that they did not deserve to have it.

"They had won it all these years and had not taken care of it, so I took it. I got a shirt to wrap around it and got on a boat," the woman, wearing a balaclava mask and a bandoleer of empty beer cans, said. "No one suspected anything. I blended in with the crowd and made a getaway."

Lola said the non-trophy had not been damaged or altered in any way. True to the Non-Mariner's motto, "The Sea Does Not Want Them, The Sea Shall Not Have Them", she has not thrown it into the sea.

"They will only get it back if they respond," she said. "If they don't meet me half way they will never see it again. I will go put it out at North Rock."

"Lola" demanded to be a judge in next year's race and be included in the 2006 trophy presentation.

The Non-Mariner's Race is a tongue-in-cheek race of makeshift floats in Mangrove Bay is designed to raise money for the Somerset Rest Home. It began 33 years ago and features satirical commentary on politics and social issues here and abroad.

White Heron Non-Captain Paul Maccoy said confidently before this year's race: "We've blackmailed and bribed the judges and on one occasion we even kidnapped a judge, but now we're determined to have another non-win."

Race non-organiser David Panchaud and non-commentator Bruce Barritt were unavailable for comment ? but are understood to be checking the authenticity of the communiqu?.