Drunken visitor knocks down guard, attacks cops, damages car
An American visitor was locked up in St Ann last week after punching down a security guard, spitting at police officers and kicking one in the face after being arrested. He also damaged a policeman’s car.
The incidents started when an apparently drunk Timothy Moore, of the US, started a brawl at a bar at Gran Bahia Principe, Runaway Bay, St Ann.
It ended in court when he was told to pay the guard for injuries sustained including three lost teeth and to pay a cop for damage to his car. Moore was locked up after he couldn’t find the agreed compensation money the same day.
In the St Ann’s Bay Resident Magistrate Court Friday, October 17, the day after the incident, Timothy Moore pleaded guilty to two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of malicious destruction of property.
It is alleged that the accused man, Timothy Moore, who was vacationing with his family at the Gran Bahia Principe Hotel in Runaway Bay, was involved in a brawl at the hotel on Thursday, October 16.
BAR BRAWL
The court heard that one of the complainants, Luton Golding, a security guard at the hotel, was carrying out his duties when we was alerted by Housekeeping about a situation that was occurring at the bar area.
Golding then went to the bar where two men were seen restraining the accused, preventing him from entering the bar. He then asked the accused why he wanted to go into the bar and a then-intoxicated Moore responded by saying he wanted to fight someone inside.
The complainant then instructed the accused, Moore, to follow him to the front desk area. While the security guard was walking to the front desk, Mr. Moore put an arm around his shoulder and Mr. Golding told him not to do it.
However, upon reaching the front desk, the accused man held Mr. Golding again and he told him once more, not to do it.
Mr. Moore then punched Golding in the face, knocking him out. After recovering, the security guard realized that three of his upper teeth had been knocked out and three of his lower teeth were dislodged. The security manager was summoned and the police came and took Moore to the station.
KICK
It is alleged that the when the accused man was taken to the station, he was behaving boisterously, spat at police officers, used indecent language and kicked the second complainant, Constable Derron Sterling, to the left side of his face. Consequently, the police officer had to visit the hospital because of the pains he was feeling in his jaw.
The court was also told that Moore also jumped on Constable Sterling’s motor vehicle causing damage to the bonnet and windscreen.
Attorney Oswest Senior Smith who represents Moore, said the accused apologized “profusely” for what he has done. He added that the vacationer had never been arrested prior to the incident.
INTOXICATED
“He was somewhat intoxicated and cannot recall all that happened but he assumes full responsibility,” he said. “He is prepared to underwrite the material expenses to the two complainants.”
When Resident Magistrate Andrea Thomas asked Mr. Golding how much he requesting as compensation, he said $150,000. The magistrate then said that they may not be enough to cover his expenses but since that was what he was asking for, it will be given to him.
The second complainant, Constable Sterling, requested $80,000 to repair the damage caused to his car.
After a brief consultation with his client, Attorney Smith-West, indicated that the accused has realized that the money which Mr.Golding has requested may not be enough to cover his expenses and is offering him US$3,000 (J$335, 000) instead. He also offered to pay Constable Sterling $100,000 instead of the $80,000 which he had requested.
The court then rose, that is, it paused for a time to be resumed, so as to allow the accused some time to get the money. Howevere, when the court resumed, he had not accumulated the funds.
Senior Magistrate Andrea Thomas outlined to Moore’s family members that she would not treat him any differently than she would treat a local and that if the money was paid, she may not consider a conviction.
Moore has been remanded in custody and the matter is set for mention Tuesday, October 21.
