Motorist allegedly poses as cop to avoid ticket

A man who is accused of posing as a cop to avoid getting a traffic ticket made an appearance before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

Charged with impersonating the police is Andrew Brown. He has pleaded not guilty. The allegations are that the police were on patrol on South Odeon Avenue, and upon seeing the police, Brown and two other men rushed to their vehicles and attempted to drive away. Brown and another driver were stopped and told to turn off their engines.

The court heard that Brown said to a police sergeant, "Squaddie, you don't have to write no ticket. Me police just like you, me station at Hunt's Bay Police Station and the car that I am driving is for the superintendent."

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague described Brown's comment to the police as 'elaborate'.

It was also revealed that when he was cautioned, Brown told the police "Offica, me a security guard. Me never mean fi say me a police offica, me just want tell him say me a offica."

However, Brown firmly denied the allegations and said the police officers misunderstood what he said. Under Section 27 of the Constabulary Force Act, persons who are found in possession of paraphernalia used by the force will be subject to a maximum fine of $500,000. Brown is to return to court on November 22.