assaulting two Policemen were thrown out of Magistrates' Court this week.

Anthony J. O. Pitcher, of Pinetree Lane, walked free after being arrested last May because his landlord said he had stolen electrical parts from her apartment.

On May 15 Pitcher went to the Hamilton Police Station because he thought he was being questioned about a complaint he had made against his landlord.

But he was instead questioned about the theft.

The officers who were arresting him claimed that Pitcher assaulted two of them and violently resisted arrest. He also told them that he had not stolen anything.

A judgment handed down by acting Magistrate the Wor. Wilhelm Bourne said Pitcher who was defended by Mr. Rod Attride-Sterling and Mr. Ian Kawaley, was only arrested because he was believed to have stolen the items.

"There must be reasonable grounds for arrest, and if there is not, then the arrest is unlawful.

"There was no electrician report saying the parts were stolen. There was only a suspicion of actual stealing.

"The court is not satisfied that stealing occurred and it is not satisfied with the Police report.'' He added: "There were inconsistencies with D.c Terrance Maxwell's statement and I cannot rely on his evidence.

"There is no reason to believe the felony was committed by the defendant and I acquit the defendant of the charges.''