Junkanoo judge arrested during parade

As of Monday, December 29, 2014

POLICE arrested numerous people on Bay Street and Shirley Street during the weekend’s Boxing Day parade, including a judge of the event wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet, according to officials.

The arrested man, Anthony Harvey, had been charged in Freeport, Grand Bahama, in 2012 in connection with having sexual intercourse with a minor of the same sex.

A senior Junkanoo official, who spoke to The Tribune on the condition of anonymity, expressed shock yesterday that the man had eluded authorities for months on his way to becoming a judge in the country’s biggest national parade.

Harvey, The Tribune understands, had been undergoing judge-related training since September. He had met with other judges and prospective judges every Tuesday and Friday since that time.

No one, according to The Tribune’s source, suspected him of being an accused person or knew that he wore a monitoring device.

Nonetheless, The Tribune understands that police began asking Junkanoo officials about Harvey early on Friday morning and arrested him shortly after the parade officially began.

He was among several men wearing ankle bracelets who were arrested, Assistant Police Commissioner Leon Bethel said.

Judge vetting involves passing exams and giving applications which are then taken to a vetting committee where members of major Junkanoo groups have the final say on whether applicants should be allowed to judge.

In the future, The Tribune’s source said, officials may start requiring that prospective judges submit a copy of their police record as part of the application process.

Mr Bethel said the police presence was extensive at the parade, adding that officers will not shy away from arresting those accused of “criminal” activities.

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