The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN who claimed he violated the national curfew to drop his son’s medication at the boy’s grandmother’s house was fined $500 yesterday.

He was among several people who appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes for curfew and lockdown infractions, including a man who attempted to evade arrest after he was caught outside during the weekend lockdown.

Marcus Seymour, 30, was charged after officers found him on Carmichael Road around 9.20pm on May 6.

He pleaded guilty, but said he only violated the curfew because he was trying to bring his son’s medication to him. During the hearing, Seymour told the magistrate he had dropped his son at his mother’s home earlier that day, but his son had accidentally left his bag with his medication in his car. He claimed his mother’s house was only five minutes away, so he thought he would be able to make a “quick dash” to drop the bag off.

In response, Magistrate Forbes told Seymour in the future he should ensure there was an “emergency stash” of medication wherever his son lived and stayed regularly. He also told Seymour his “simple lack of judgement” would cost him $500 or three months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Meanwhile, Waskin Jean, 20, was charged after officers found him on John F Kennedy Drive around 10.30pm on May 6. He pleaded guilty and was fined $500 or three months in prison. The prosecution said officers observed a male walking near the six-legged roundabout. When questioned, the man who identified himself as Waskin Jean, told the officers he was walking home from a small chicken shack.

Jean told the magistrate he was walking from the chicken shack because he had just left home after getting into an altercation with his uncle. Jean said he decided to leave the house before the “situation escalated” and was only walking the streets because he was looking for somewhere he could spend the night. In response, Magistrate Forbes told the defendant he should have contacted the COVID-19 hotline since he had an urgent reason to be outdoors.

Rudolph Russell, 18, was charged after officers found him on Sixth Street around 9.53pm on May 6. He pleaded guilty and was fined $500 or three months at BDCS. The prosecution said at the time of his arrest, he told the officers he was going to call on a friend.

Delano Munroe, 23, was charged after he was found on Washington Street around 10am on May 9 during the weekend lockdown. He pleaded guilty and was fined $550 or three months at the BDCS.

The prosecution said officers on patrol on Washington Street saw a man walking; when the male noticed the officers, he ran away. The police then gave chase and arrested the suspect who identified himself as Delano Munroe. He was taken to the East Street South Police Station, where he claimed he was “heading to carry some goods to his children” in an interview with police.

During the hearing Munroe told the magistrate he was only outdoors because he was trying to pick up his pay cheque from his employer. In response, Magistrate Forbes told Munroe he should not have been outside if he wasn’t an essential worker.

Terrel Rolle, 24, was charged after officers found him in Pinewood Gardens around 9.53pm on May 9. He also pleaded guilty and was fined $500 or three months at BDCS. Prosecutor Claudette McKenzie told the court on the night in question, Rolle told officers that he went outside to get some tomato paste from his neighbour.

John Colebrooke, 57, was charged after officers found him near Windsor Place around 10.08pm on May 9. He pleaded guilty and was fined $500 or three months in prison. Prosecutor McKenzie told the court at the time of Colebrooke’s arrest, he told officers he wanted to “hail his girlfriend before he headed in.” During the hearing, Colebrooke told the magistrate that he didn’t stay by his girlfriend during the lockdown because she started to aggravate him so he decided to go back to his house across the street.

Officers found Marcus Mortimer, 33, on Market Street around 8.30am on May 9. Prosecutor Mckenzie said at the time of his arrest, he told the officers he was going to the store. During the hearing, Mortimer pleaded guilty to violating the lockdown.

His mother also appeared in court and told the magistrate her son had a “mental problem and was in and out of the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre.” She explained Mortimer lived by himself so his family would call him to let him know when the lockdown was being enforced. Mortimer also said he had a fever that morning and was trying to go to the shop to “buy a soda and a half-pint”.

In response, Magistrate Forbes said the defendant appeared to understand the nature of the offence he committed and fined him $300 or one month at BDCS.