Cops chase down dangerous overtaker ? and find he?s impaired

Impaired driver Otis Johnston, who overtook a Police patrol car at speed and was then seen driving in a dangerous manner along Middle Road in Warwick, was twice over the legal drink-drive limit.

The 29-year-old Warwick man admitted impaired driving when he appeared in Magistrates? Court last week.

The court heard that a Police patrol car was travelling along Middle Road in Warwick at 9.20 p.m. on October 5 when it was overtaken at speed by a dark-coloured station wagon.

Officers in the patrol car watched as the station wagon drove in a dangerous manner. The Police activated their siren and emergency lights and caused Johnston to pull over on Manse Road, Warwick.

Crown counsel Paula Tyndale said the Police officers noticed Johnston was unsteady on his feet and his eyes were glazed. He was asked to provide a breath sample at Hamilton Police Station which recorded 170 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

In mitigation Johnston, of Stadium Lane, said: ?I?d been working late at night and I was tired and was on my way to get some supper when I was stopped. I was dehydrated at the time and was going for something to eat and drink.?

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner disqualified Johnston from driving all vehicles for 12 months and fined him $1,000.

Six grams of weed earns $800 fine

A man caught with cannabis was fined $800 on Friday. Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney told Magistrates? Court Police chased Jamel Evans after spotting him at Woody?s Bar, Sandys, and suspecting him of criminal activity.

Evans, 34, of St Monica?s Road, Pembroke ? who works at Boaz Island Shell gas station as an attendant ? was found to have 6.33 grams of the drug on him.

Another $800 fine for cannabis

Being caught with less than $50 worth of cannabis in his pocket has landed a Pembroke man with an $800 fine.

Rajohn Trott aroused the suspicion of Police officers when he was seen fidgeting in his trousers pockets after the car in which he was a passenger was stopped near Astwood Park on South Road.

?The defendant was a passenger and was seen fidgeting with the front pockets of his pants. He was asked to step out of the vehicle and was told he was going to be searched,? said Crown counsel Paula Tyndale, outlining the circumstances of the offence in Magistrates? Court last week.

She said Trott, 23, of Perimeter Lane, produced a zip lock bag from his pocket, which contained a plant-like substance.

When asked by officers what the substance was, he did not reply. Tests later revealed the substance was 0.35 grams of cannabis. Pleading guilty to the offence, which took place on July 18 this year, Trott was fined $800 by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Tourist fined $3,000 for cannabis, pipes

An American tourist who flew into a violent rage when Police discovered drugs in his hotel room was fined $3,000 on Friday.

Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney told Magistrates? Court that Police raided Burt Lyon?s room at the Fairmont Southampton Princess on Wednesday afternoon. They found 0.19 grams of cannabis and five pipes intended for drug-taking. Lyon, 41, of Wehrie Drive, Lancaster, New York, later admitted to Police he had used the pipes for smoking cocaine.

Mr. Mahoney said the defendant became aggressive when told Police had a warrant to search his room.

He ?flung his arms about in a threatening manner,? said Mr. Mahoney, and slammed his head back into a wall so hard it damaged the wall. Officers had to restrain Lyon, a salesman, on the floor, where he shouted offensive words and kicked his feet.

He sustained a cut to his forehead during his fit of rage. Lyon also pleaded guilty to obstructing a Police officer. Addressing Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, he said he had had alcohol problems for five years but was trying not to drink.

?That?s a wise decision. Fortunately, you injured yourself and not the Police,? responded Mr. Warner.

Handing him the fine, he set three months in prison as the punishment for non-payment.