Motorcyclist charged for assaulting traffic rank, other offences

The motorcyclist who was caught on camera assaulting a traffic officer on Sunday last was slapped with several charges including assault on a peace officer when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday.

Levi Taitt of D’Urban Street, Georgetown, appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse and the charges were read against him.
It is alleged that on August 22, 2020, at King Street, Georgetown, he assaulted a peace officer who was acting in the execution of his duties. He pleaded not guilty and was placed on $25,000 bail.
The second charge stated that on the same day at the same location, he resisted arrest from a Police Constable who was acting in the execution of his duties – thereby preventing lawful apprehension. Taitt pleaded not guilty and was also placed on $25,000 bail for this charge.
The third charge detailed that he drove motorcycle CJ 7532 when he was not the holder of a driver’s license. He pleaded guilty and was fined $25,000.
Finally, the police stated that the motorcycle Taitt was driving was not insured. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In addition, he was charged for failure to carry the front ID mark, failure to wear a safety helmet, obscured ID mark on the rear, and breach of one-way. On these charges, he was placed on self-bail.
The court heard that on Saturday last, a traffic rank performing his duties at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, observed the motorcycle driving up a one-way.
As a result, the rank approached the driver, who then jumped off his motorcycle and walked towards a nearby snackette. The officer called out to the driver in an attempt to get his attention, but he did not pay heed.
Instead, the errant driver went into the snackette, and it was at this time that the police held on to the motorcycle. The driver, in a fit of rage, ran out of the fast food outlet and dealt the officer several cuffs to his head, face, and other parts of his body.
During the assault, the rank’s cap fell off, and he was forced to let go of the motorcycle. As the officer was recovering from the blows, the motorcyclist picked up the bike and began running towards Regent Street in an attempt to escape.
However, with the assistance of other ranks that arrived at the scene, they were able to restrain and arrest the driver, who was escorted to the Brickdam Police Station.
After listening to the prosecution’s submission, his worship adjourned the matter until October 26, 2020, when Taitt will make another court appearance.