Renaldo Peter Fenty might have been correct when he told a police officer that the taxes he paid helped to pay his salary.
However, the manner in which he did so led to him being arrested.
When the 39-year-old first mate on a ship, of Apartment No. 3, Harts Gap, Christ Church, appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday, he pleaded guilty to telling Constable Kenrick King: “I does pay your . . . salary, ya j . . . You is a j . . . ,” on Sunday.
When asked by the magistrate what motivated him to speak to the officer in such a manner, Fenty apologised, saying his actions were out of character.
“I was out of line, out of character and I am not proud of what happened. I want to apologise to the officer and I want to apologise to the Royal Barbados Police Force,” he added.
The apology was accepted by prosecutor Sergeant Rudy Pilgrim.
Fenty’s attorney Janielee Kelly also told the court her client was remorseful.
In asking for a bond to be imposed, she said while it was an extremely serious matter, no violence was used.
In giving the details, Pilgrim said police were in the area of Pierhead, The City, on Sunday around 7:20 p.m. conducting operations when they had reason to stop three motorcyclists.
Their actions led to a large crowd gathering. Fenty was part of that crowd which became boisterous.
He uttered the words to police and when they approached him and asked for his name and address, he refused. He was subsequently arrested.
Magistrate Frederick told him while it might be true that his taxes helped to pay the salaries of police officers, he could not behave in that manner.
He made Fenty pay $500 in costs in one week with an alternative of seven days in prison. No conviction will be recorded against him. (RB)
