12 months jail for minibus driver who attacked cop with cutlass

The Sophia minibus driver, who was caught on camera assaulting a traffic officer and resisting arrest, was on Friday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment after he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer 14 charges.

Collis Whyte first appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly on five charges – resisting arrest, using indecent language towards the police officer, Edwin Connelly; disorderly behaviour, carrying an offensive weapon and threatening behaviour.

Whyte pleaded guilty to all the charges except for the disorderly behaviour charge. Magistrate Daly sentenced Whyte to a total of 12 months imprisonment and remanded him to prison for the latter. The matter is adjourned to May 17.

He was then arraigned before Magistrate Clive Nurse on four counts of dangerous driving, failure to give the right away, failure to wear a seatbelt, breach of prescribed road fitness, conduct of a driver and failure to wear a facemask.

Whyte pleaded not guilty to three of the charges and guilty to failure to wear a seatbelt. He was released on $240,000 bail and fined $7,500 on the latter. The case was adjourned to May 28.

According to reports, at around 13:15hrs on the day in question, the traffic cop was on patrol on Homestretch Avenue when the minibus, registration number #BZZ 3029, driven by Whyte, was seen was overtaking the line of traffic with at least 15 vehicles ahead of him.

Whyte was stopped by officer Connelly, informed of the offence and asked to produce his driver’s license but he reportedly drove away instead.

The traffic officer chased after Whyte and caught up to him on Sheriff Street and stopped him once more.

It is alleged that Whyte exited his vehicle, armed himself with a cutlass and chased after the officer, forcing him to flee for his safety.  Whyte was later arrested by patrol officers. The incident was captured on video.