Christopher Thomas, STAR Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A St James taxi operator accused of hitting a policeman with his vehicle while evading the lawman's attempts to give him a traffic ticket was again remanded on Wednesday following the revelation that he had previously been issued over 150 traffic tickets.

Kelvin Stewart is charged before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court with dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer, unlawful wounding, resisting arrest, and failing to report an accident. He returns to court on May 19.

Allegations are that on February 8, the policeman was at Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, when he saw Stewart soliciting passengers with his white Toyota station wagon, which had public passenger plates attached. The officer approached Stewart to give him a ticket.

Stewart opened the door of his car as if to exit, but suddenly started the engine and reversed, hitting the officer with the car door and squeezing the lawman's boot with the car wheel. He then sped off, driving through a red light along St James Street and evading another officer's efforts to stop him. The cop sustained a swollen foot and injuries to his knees and elbow.

The court heard that on March 21, police saw Stewart and attempted to arrest him, but he fled and ran along Market Street. He was chased and held. He was subsequently taken to the Barnett Street police station where he was arrested and charged.

150 tickets

Clerk of the court Natalie Malcolm told presiding magistrate Carolyn Tie that checks had revealed that Stewart had 150 tickets for past offences, which had not yet been completed before the court.

"I understand that it was ascertained that he had over 150 traffic tickets in the parish of St James. Those matters have not been disposed of," said Malcolm, who added that the prosecution's case file in the current matter was ready.

RM Tie subsequently remanded Stewart, despite efforts by his attorney Karl Singh to secure bail.

"Based on the allegations, he was non-compliant, and there was difficulty finding him. The court would not be minded to offer him bail," said RM Tie.