Passenger lands in ‘hot water’

On July 30, Michelle Jana McElwee, who was planning to jump in a band on Kadooment Day, misbehaved on an aeroplane, assaulted a crew member and a police sergeant, and imported a small quantity of marijuana.

McElwee, 44, of Apartment 3, 4600 West, Martin Luther King Boulevard, California, pleaded guilty when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday. She was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on four of the offences, but must now pay $2 000 in compensation to the police officer she pushed.

While a passenger on board Air Canada Rogue, without lawful excuse, she refused to follow a lawful instruction given by crew member Famke Van Brugge, for the purpose of trying to maintain order on the aircraft. The other charges were assaulting Famke Van Brugge and Sergeant Stephanie McCollin, as well as unlawfully importing and being in possession of three grammes of cannabis.

Constable Cindy Greaves told the Court that McElwee put her hand in a crew member’s face, which upset other crew members as well as passengers. It all started when McElwee complained that one of the flight attendants was hitting her shoulder with her “fat a**” every time she passed. Although that attendant and others apologised, the American became aggressive.

When spoken to, her response was that she did not “give a ***k” for anything the flight crew was saying to her, even after she was warned she would likely face consequences once the aircraft landed in Barbados.

The captain also spoke to her and tried to quieten her, but McElwee ignored them all.

On arrival, she was arrested and searched by Sergeant McCollin. A bottle of what was thought to be liquid cannabis was found in her luggage and when asked about it, McElwee said it was “to relax” her.

In mouth

Another object was found under one of her breasts, but when told to remove

it, the woman quickly put it in her mouth, which she refused to open afterwards. When the officer tried to remove it, McElwee pushed her away, causing McCollin to stumble back. She was restrained after that.

Yesterday, her attorney Mohia Ma’at explained that his client had been on island “from July 30 until today” and had come to Barbados to attend Crop Over and jump in a band. “She had a costume, Sir, but she didn’t get to wear it. Her entire party time was at the prison,” he added.

He conceded that McElwee’s behaviour on the plane had been bad enough, but she added to it by assaulting the officer.

Ma’at said she had not eaten well since she was here, had been to the hospital, her blood pressure was “in the air” and tests indicated that she suffered a mild heart attack.

The court heard she worked 14 years in a mental health institution as a therapist, was now a real estate agent and takes care of her ailing father.

McElwee apologised “to whomever I offended – to the crew members, the guards, the sergeant, the passengers, everybody”.

“It is clear she had a rough ride,” Ma’at said, adding she did not waste the court’s time and was not known to any court.

Admitting that she was wrong to do what she did, he asked the Chief Magistrate to take into consideration the eight days she had been in prison, and to sentence her to time served.

“Don’t think she going come here, misbehave and then we gine just tell yuh time served and leh you go ‘long. That ain’t going work,” Chief Magistrate Weekes said. “Putting your hands on a police officer? Can’t happen.”

She has seven days to pay the compensation or will spend 30 days in prison. (SD)