Man accuses cop of stealing cell phones

A Corporate Area resident who went to a police station to report that he was allegedly robbed by a cop was ordered to spend a night in jail when he reportedly threatened lawmen and behaved boisterously.

Andrew Burrell pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct, threat and using abusive and calumnious language when he appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. He was initially brought to court on May 30, the day of the incident. It is alleged that Burrell acted in a disorderly manner in the presence of an inspector. The court heard further that after he was taken from the court on Monday, he threatened another police officer, saying "P*******e police bwoy yuh ago dead."

However, in his defence, the 46-year-old Burrell explained to Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque that he went to report the alleged incident on three separate occasions.

"I came to the station on Saturday, I didn't threaten any police. I came on Sunday; I didn't threaten any police. I came on three separate occasions on Monday, I did not threaten any police. The sergeant said that I should give a statement because a policeman robbed me and they said I am a liar, and me a lie pon police and me fi come out of the station and they pushed me outside. I have witnesses and they handcuffed me outside on a chair in the hot sun," Burrell told the court.

He indicated that he was robbed of several phones on May 27 and accused cops of not taking his statement. Cole-Montaque offered him bail in the sum of $80,000. The matter is set for mention on June 9 and the case file is expected to be completed by then. - T.T.