Motorist fined $2,000 for yelling at cop who called him ‘boy’

A St James man who reportedly took offence to being called 'boy' by a cop during a traffic stop, was fined $2,000 in the St James Parish Court on Wednesday.

Rajay Gardner was ordered to pay the fine by presiding judge Sasha-Marie Ashley after he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. The court was told that on March 15, at 4 p.m., Gardner was driving a black Toyota Voxy in the vicinity of Long Hill, when he was stopped by the police and asked to show his vehicle documents. Gardner presented a driver's identification receipt, but the police asked for additional identification, following which the defendant became boisterous, to the point where he attracted a crowd. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

Attorney Henry McCurdy, who represented Gardner, explained that the defendant had been driving his pregnant girlfriend to a doctor's appointment at the time of the traffic stop, and that his behaviour was provoked by the officers.

"He was taking his girlfriend to the doctor because she is pregnant, and the police said to him, 'Bwoy, where you get di vehicle from?' Sometimes you have to control yourself even when disrespected by the police, and I have spoken to him about it and he is very sorry," said McCurdy.

Following the attorney's explanation, Judge Ashley imposed the $2,000 fine on Gardner and subsequently allowed him to leave the courtroom.