The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A JURY briefly heard yesterday how an attempt by policemen on mobile patrol to pull over a vehicle driving in the wrong direction on a one way street led to a high-speed chase and a female pedestrian being dragged by the get-away car.

The brief account of the August 5, 2008 incident was outlined during the opening address of the prosecution’s case against Torino Moss who faces seven criminal charges; two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm with intent to prevent lawful arrest, assault with a deadly weapon and damage.

It is claimed that Moss, concerned with another, tried to resist arrest and intended to endanger the lives of Corporal 2512 Johnson and Constable 574 Hanna with the unlicensed firearm(s) and assorted ammunition in his possession.

It is further claimed that he assaulted Maglorie Maglada with a “deadly weapon” – a 1989 Mercedes Benz – and caused damage to a 2008 Ford Crown Victoria.

Moss, also known as Torino Pratt, or “Raiders”, pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday.

In the opening address prosecuter Anishka Hanchell Wells said the Crown would prove that around 8:30am, the two officers were on mobile patrol when they saw a vehicle on Horse Shoe Drive going in the wrong direction.

When officers attempted to pull over the blue Mercedes Benz, it pulled off. 

“They weren’t about to stop,” the prosecutor said, adding that a high-speed chase followed as the occupants of the car made several attempts to evade police for a matter of minutes until they hit a female pedestrian.

“She was trapped under the car and dragged some 80 feet before the defendant was forced to stop,” the prosecutor said. The prosecutor also told the jury that the assailant opened fire on police on leaving the vehicle and runnning away.

The officers returned fire. Moss was struck before being cornered in a building and arrested.

The case was adjourned to today.

Eucal Bonaby and Anishka Hanchell Wells are prosecuting for the Crown while Moss is defended by Jiaram Mangra.

Justice Vera Watkins presides over the case.