Vendor charged for snatching $1.8M gold chain from cop

…previously charged for assaulting foreign vlogger

A 29-year-old Kingston, Georgetown vendor was on Monday charged with stealing a police officer’s gold chain valued at $1.8 million when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Quacy McKay, stood before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. According to the charge, McKay allegedly stole one gold chain valued at $1.8 million on January 24, at Church Street, Georgetown. The chain is the property of Trevon Baglore, a police officer.

The prosecution objected to bail, informing the court that video footage allegedly capturing McKay committing the offence exists and that the accused had been shown the footage by investigators. McKay, however, denied the allegation. Addressing the court, he stated that the police only showed him footage of himself walking along Robb Street, Georgetown near someone, insisting that the video did not show him stealing the chain. He pleaded with the court to grant bail and requested that the amount be set at a figure he could reasonably afford. After hearing submissions, Magistrate Azore granted bail in the sum of $75,000, and adjourned the matter to February 16. Less than a month ago, McKay was also before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in connection with a separate matter involving the alleged assault of a visiting content creator near the La Penitence Market.
In that case, McKay appeared before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of using assaultive language likely to cause a breach of the peace and unlawfully assaulting Anthony D’Oliveira, a YouTuber and travel vlogger, on January 5 at Saffon Street, La Penitence.
The prosecution objected to bail, citing public safety concerns and noting that D’Oliveira was a visitor to Guyana. The state alleged that the vlogger was filming at the entrance to the market when he was slapped to the back of his head and verbally abused. Prosecutors said their case was supported by video footage and a recorded interview. In his defence, McKay had told the court that he objected to being filmed and had repeatedly asked D’Oliveira to stop pointing the camera in his direction. He claimed the situation escalated after his objections were ignored.
While noting that assault could not be justified, Magistrate McGusty stated that filming individuals without their consent can be deeply offensive in some cultures. She emphasised however, that two wrongs do not make a right and that the vlogger’s status as a visitor did not warrant special treatment or physical harm.
McKay was granted $10,000 bail on each charge, totaling $20,000, and was placed on a bond to keep the peace.