Taxi driver admits to insulting cop

While he admitted to calling a policeman “ignorant”, Wendell Douglas Oxley said he didn’t tell him so to his face.

That was the explanation of the 50-year-old driver, of Sisnett Road, Bannister Land, Martinique Road, St Michael, in theDistrict ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

As he stood in the dock, Oxley pleaded guilty to using the insulting language, “Man you is an ignorant policeman” to Constable Carl Johnson in the execution of his duties on January 22.

Prosecutor Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls said Johnson was on duty at the Bridgetown Port when Oxley approached him and made a report about a dispute involving tourists in respect of taxi fare.

As the officer was dealing with the dispute, Oxley became irritated and told the tourists not to bother and that he would accept whatever money they were willing to give him.

He took the money and walked away, but came back shouting at the lawman, telling him he was an ignorant policeman, the court heard.

But the first-time offender disputed those facts.

“I was not behaving bad. I was telling people that I had to deal with an ignorant man. I didn’t say anything about an ignorant policeman. I didn’t say it to his face either; I turned and walked away,” he said.

Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant cautioned him and told him that by pleading guilty, he had accepted the facts as outlined by the prosecution.

She told him if those facts were not true, he should change his plea to not guilty.

Oxley then made the decision to keep hisguilty plea.

The magistrate placed him on a bond to keep the peace for six months. If he breaches it, he will have to pay $750 forthwith or spend six months in jail. (RB)