VSB journalist Ashfield DeVent walked from Magistrates' Court a free man yesterday after prosecutors dropped a charge of obstructing Police.

Mr. DeVent, 43, of Pembroke, pleaded not guilty to obstructing Sgt. Philip Lewis on September 8. He originally opted for a Supreme Court trial before a judge and jury.

But yesterday Principal Crown counsel Dorien Taylor told Acting Magistrate Edward Bailey: "Your Worship, I appear on behalf of the Crown to inform you that we will not be offering any evidence in this matter.'' Mr. Bailey replied: "Mr. DeVent, your counsel, Ms (Victoria) Pearman is here.

"But I'm not going to ask her if she has anything to say,'' he continued.

"She must have had a lot to say before she came to court! And so I dismiss the case.'' Mr. DeVent and a friend, Reuben Eardley Thomas, were arrested at 10.30 p.m. on Court Street under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Thomas was convicted after a trial in which Sgt. Lewis said Thomas became agitated and "made my job more difficult''.

Under the Misuse of Drugs Act Police have wide powers of search and arrest if there are "reasonable grounds'' of suspicion.