Cop’s no-show angers judge

A member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force drew the ire of a senior parish judge after prosecutors informed her that the cop cannot be found to complete the file for a matter that has been before the court since 2020.

"This is not a patty shop," Senior Parish Judge Paula Blake-Powell said. Her comments came following the absence of the investigating officer in the matter against Joseph Hibbert, who is charged with conspiracy to simple larceny, aid and abet simple larceny and simple larceny.

Hibbert appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday, for his 15th mention date, when prosecutors shared that the investigating officer, who is attached to the Hunts Bay Police Station, cannot be found and that the case file is incomplete.

"Hunts Bay is right down the road and he cannot be found?" the judge asked, before ordering a warrant for the investigating officer.

"I take no pleasure in writing this," Judge Blake-Powell said before making an order for the assistant clerk to prepare the warrant.

"The only way he can be saved today from the warrant is if he reaches court before I leave the bench today," the judge said, before indicating that the matter has to be completed urgently.

It is alleged that in May 2020, a Jamaica Urban Transit Company bus was observed parked along the roadway in Olympic Way, that aroused the suspicions of police officers on patrol.

The officers allegedly saw Hibbert using a hose and five 10 gallon bottles to steal gasolene from the bus.

"Do the work and get the necessary statements on the file," the senior jurist ordered. The matter is set for trial on October 19. - T.T.