Man arrested after Police followed cannabis smell in club

A 22-year-old man found with cannabis in a Hamilton nightspot has been fined $1,000.

Jah-Lario Samuels was arrested at around 10 p.m. on October 1 after Police smelled burning cannabis during a liquor licence check at Captain's Lounge on Reid Street.

Crown counsel Nicole Smith told Magistrates' Court the smell came from a corner of the building where the Pembroke resident was sitting. The officers found a white paper twist in Samuels' left pants pocket. Inside the twist was 0.62 grams of cannabis.

Samuels pleaded guilty to the offence last week. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner gave him until November 18 to pay the fine.

Samuels was shot in the chest on The Glebe Road last October.

Fines top $4,000 for impaired driver

An auto mechanic committed a string of traffic offences and was fined more than $4,000 when he appeared in Magistrates' Court.

Kiejon Steede, 28, from Redcoat Lane, admitted to driving while disqualified, being over the drink drive limit and having no licence and insurance. The court heard Steede was driving his vehicle on Middle Road, in Smith's, on Thursday when Police on mobile patrol saw him drive through a junction.

Steede was pulled over and officers noted the smell of intoxicants, but Steede said: "Yes, but I am not drunk. Do you want me to walk a straight line?"

He was taken to Hamilton Police Station where a breathalyser test showed he had 102 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

Further inquiries showed that he had been disqualified from driving from December 11, 2009 until December 10 this year, and had no licence or insurance. Steede said: "I never knew I was off the road because when I am stopped they just give me a ticket."

But Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said his record showed he was a "prolific" traffic violator. He fined Steede $1,000 each for having no insurance on two occasions, driving while disqualified and for driving while impaired. He was fined an additional $250 for having an unlicensed vehicle and was handed a 24-month driving ban, to run consecutive to his current disqualification. Mr. Tokunbo said: "Let's see if that discourages you from your propensity to commit traffic offences."

He gave Steede until November 15 to pay.

Motorcyclist injured after collision with truck

Traffic outside of Hamilton slowed to a crawl Sunday after a 36-year-old on a motorcycle collided with a truck on Rural Hill.

A Police spokesman said the vehicles were both travelling along South Road near the South Round-a-bout in Paget at around 5.10 p.m. when they collided.

The motorcyclist, a Devonshire man, was injured in the collision and taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH), but his injuries were not believed to be life threatening. The accident was the second in less than two hours.

At around 3.40 p.m., a car and a van collided at the Junction of North Shore Road and Blackwatch Pass in Pembroke.

The driver of the car, a 59-year-old Sandys man, was inured in the collision, as was the passenger in the van, a 59-year-old Sandys woman. The van's driver, a 66-year-old Warwick man escaped the collision without injury.

Both injured people were taken to KEMH for treatment, but their injuries were not believed to be life threatening.

Driver hurt in parked car collision

A 27-year-old escaped with only a minor arm injury after he crashed into a parked car Sunday.According to Police, the Pembroke man was travelling in a car along North Shore Road in Devonshire at around 4.35 a.m. when he collided with the second vehicle.

While both cars were extensively damaged, the driver suffered only minor injuries to his arm. Police arrested the driver on suspicion of impaired driving, but later released the man after he passed a breath test.

Burglary warning

Police are again reminding the public to lock their doors and windows after cash was stolen form a Pembroke home.

According to Police, at some time between 11 p.m. on Thursday and 5.30 a.m. on Friday, and unknown culprit entered the Victoria Street home, removing the money.

"All residents should make sure windows and doors are locked before leaving their homes unattended, even for short periods of time," said a spokesperson for the Police.

Anyone who sees suspicious activity or individuals in their neighbourhood is asked to contact the Police at 295-0011.