Craig Clarke blames unnamed ‘people in influential positions’ who wanted him to ‘go away’By Ceola WilsonCraig Clarke walked free of charges that he used threatening behaviour towards police officers following a ruling in Magistrates’ Court yesterday.Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ruled the former Prison Officers Association chairman had no case to answer.The 44-year-old had previously denied the charges, related to an incident at Horseshoe Bay on August 2.He said of the ruling: “I feel vindicated on my birthday.”Mr Clarke became involved in a dispute with officers over Cup Match at BeachFest celebrations, after they questioned his girlfriend on an unrelated matter.Mr Warner cleared Mr Clarke of all charges, saying he didn’t think his behaviour could legally be described as “threatening”.He was represented by lawyer Phil Perinchief, Senior Crown counsel Garrett Byrne appeared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.Both officers involved were called to testify yesterday. Pc Sandip Roy and Pc Asaph Rawlins both said they asked the defendant to calm down several times.Pc Roy said: “The defendant approached me face to face in a very aggressive manner and pointed his finger in my face.“I told him to calm down and stepped back but he ignored my instruction and came up to my face again pointing his finger in a threatening manner.“The defendant also put his index finger in Rawlins’ face and said ‘you don’t know who I am, do you? I am going to deal with you’,” he said.When Pc Rawlins approached he said: “He told the defendant he would be arrested on suspicion of threatening behaviour if he didn’t calm down.”Shortly after that he said Mr Clarke was arrested and had to be forcibly put into the police vehicle.“Mr Clarke was not ready or refusing to get in the police vehicle and we had to forcibly put the defendant in the cage at the rear of the police vehicle” said PC Roy.At that point he said they had to change vehicles and the defendant was asked to get out. Another struggle ensued and two officers forced the defendant to get into a police car to go to the Hamilton Police Station.“On the way he said the defendant shouted loudly ‘I am going to deal with you, you guys are young punks’, said Pc Roy. “The defendant was very uncooperative at the station, so much so that the Duty Sergeant couldn’t finish processing him and so he police put him in a cell.”Contacted later by The Royal Gazette Mr Clarke said: “I feel vindicated. Fully vindicated because these were trumped-up charges with no credibility. There was no credence to charges put against me.“I feel personally that this was a witch hunt in certain circles to remove me from the position I held as chairman of the POA.“I honestly believe people in influential positions tried to shut me up to make sure I go away.”Mr Clarke resigned from his job as a prison officer in August after he admitted causing unnecessary suffering to his dog.Sapphire the Rottweiler was discovered on the brink of death and ultimately put to sleep.Mr Clarke was handed a conditional discharge for that cruelty on the condition that he does not own another dog for one year.When asked if he was currently employed, he replied: “I’m semi-employed. But today’s my birthday and as far as I’m concerned today’s ruling was the best gift ever.“What your headline should be in the paper is I was vindicated on my birthday,” he said.