Man denies failing to comply with police dispersal order
A White Hill resident unleashed a verbal volley at police who tried to remove him from a banned area, a court heard yesterday.Vernon Symonds, 36, told officers: “You come by White Hill, I’m going to f*** you up; I’m going to kill you,” as they arrested him for refusing to comply with an order to disperse from the Woodlawn Road area on September 13, according to prosecutor Susan Mulligan.But Mr Symonds’ lawyer Marc Daniels argued police made a technical error as they administered the order under Section 110 of the Criminal Code to crack down on anti-social behaviour in White Hill.Mr Daniels said according to law alleged troublemakers should have been told clear specifics of their wrongdoings before their arrest, but he claimed police had not done so.Mr Symonds, of Sandys, is the first person to be charged in connection with Section 110 of the Criminal Code, which gives police greater powers to disperse groups within a set area and time period.His trial began at Magistrates’ Court yesterday after he pleaded not guilty to that charge and a further charge of using offensive language.Acting Chief Inspector Robert Cardwell told the court he put the order in place after residents at a public meeting at Port Royal Primary School told him they were being intimidated by groups of young people in the White Hill area.“I received a number of letters from area residents very specific to anti-social behaviour they were suffering from,” Mr Cardwell said.Notice of the order was placed in The Royal Gazette and Bermuda Sun, he said, paving the way for officers to disperse people from the area.Ms Mulligan said after it had been published, police officers visited the junction of Woodlawn Road and Middle Road three times, and Mr Symonds repeatedly refused to move.On the first occasion, he told police: “I’m in charge of this area. I’m not breaking any law. This is the law of the devil and the police are devils.”Two hours later police returned and he claimed he was outside the banned area. When police disagreed, he responded: “F*** you, f*** you. Are you serious? You want to arrest me?”Police warned him about his behaviour, and he responded: “F*** you, this is my area. Why are you arresting me?”He continued his outburst as police put him into a car, Ms Mulligan told the court.Mr Daniels has previously said the defendant lives within the area covered by the order, just three streets from the spot he was arrested.The trial continues today before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.