A jury watched body camera footage yesterday of the discovery of a firearm as a man was being arrested during a 2021 traffic stop.

The footage, recorded on July 31, 2021, showed several officers talking to the suspect, identified by officers as Jaron Roberts, as he stood near a white motorcycle.

In the recording shown at the Supreme Court, the suspect is seen to produce a licence plate from the seat of his motorcycle and fix it back on the bike as one of the officers writes him a ticket.

However, as the interaction continues, an officer warns the suspect that he would have to be taken to Hamilton Police Station because of a warrant.

One of the officers places a handcuff on the suspect’s right wrist, but as the officer attempted to put the handcuff on his left wrist the suspect is seen to rapidly pull his hand away.

Other officers then moved to the suspect, with one heard to tell him: “Nine times out of ten you are going to get bail because it’s Cup Match.”

The suspect told the officers: “I just don’t want to get locked up.”

As the arrest continued, an officer is heard asking the defendant if he had anything on him, particularly asking him about his back pack.

The suspect responded: “It’s just my personal belongings.”

Seconds later, as the officer reached towards the back pack, a scuffle begins with the suspect falling to the ground and shouting before the sound of a Taser is heard.

As the footage continued, one of the officers opens the back pack as the suspect lays face down on the ground.

The officer pulls out a piece of material before pulling out a plastic container and immediately says: “Firearm”.

Mr Roberts, 31, from St George’s, has denied charges of possessing a firearm, ammunition and violently resisting arrest in connection to an incident on July 31, 2021.

At the start of the trial, a jury heard evidence from Pc Stephen Paynter, who said he stopped Mr Roberts for driving a motorcycle without a licence plate that afternoon.

However when he began to arrest Mr Roberts over an apprehension warrant, he said he began to struggle with officers.

Pc Paynter said that after Mr Roberts was tased and handcuffed, officers searched his backpack to reveal a ski mask and a plastic sandwich container with a handgun inside.

Prosecutors have alleged that the gun was loaded with three rounds of ammunition.

The trial continues.

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