Man fined $300 for makeshift drugs pipe

Despite protesting he thought a miniature bottle of Dewar?s Whiskey was ?a nip? and not a pipe, a Sandys man was fined $300 on Tuesday for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robin Stovell, 43, of White Hill in Sandys, was searched by Police under the Misuse of Drugs Act after they noticed him acting suspiciously outside of Place?s Place on Dundonald Street West in the early hours of February 15 this year.

The officers found the bottle, with a hole in the side and brown masking tape over it, on him. The bottle was sent to the Government analyst and was found to have been used as a pipe for smoking cocaine.

Stovell pleaded guilty to possession, however, he added he was merely holding the pipe for a friend and that he believed it was just ?a nip?.

?I don?t believe you, but that?s alright,? Senior Magistrate Archie Warner told him. Stovell must pay the $300 fine by December 3.

Fines scrapped for incarcerated traffic violator

A 28-year-old man had $1,250 in traffic fines scratched on Monday after Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner found out he had been incarcerated without being allowed time to pay.

In Magistrates? Court, Khan Ali Matthews, of Fenton?s Drive, Pembroke, told the court that he had turned himself in to Police last Friday.

He said that he told the Police he knew he had traffic fines looming but was unable to pay right away.

Mr. Matthews said the Police then locked him up over the Halloween weekend.

For his weekend lock-up, Mr. Matthews asked Mr. Warner: ?Can I get $10 off my fines??

Mr. Warner replied: ?You should not have been locked up for this.?

Mr. Warner erased the no third party insurance and no vehicle licence fines and told Mr. Matthews he was free to go.

As Mr. Matthews was leaving the court, Mr. Warner said: ?But I do not know if you have any other outstanding fines.?

Mr. Matthews replied: ?No, no Sir, I don?t have any record in Bermuda.?

126 businesses nominated for service awards

Over 126 nominations for businesses that provide excellent customer service are currently being reviewed by the Consumer Affairs Board.

The public was asked to submit nominations for the Business Customer Service Awards.

Award winners will be announced on November 17, 2004, in a ceremony at Consumer Affairs, hosted by the Minister of Community Affairs and Sport, Dale Butler.

The Business Customer Service Awards are part of a Consumer Awareness Day being planned by Consumer Affairs. This is the first time that Consumer Affairs is presenting awards to businesses that the public have nominated for providing exceptional customer service.

Awards will be presented in three categories ? The People?s Choice, The Business Select and the Chairman?s Award for Best Small Business.

Police report quiet Halloween weekend

The Halloween weekend was a relatively quiet one for the Bermuda Police Service.

There were 27 incidents reported of throwing eggs at vehicles or property.

On Halloween Night there were 17 incidents reported of throwing missiles compared to 30 incidents last Halloween.

Police attributed the decline largely to highly visible Police presence and the community working together with the Police to ensure a safe weekend.

There were also five people arrested for drunk driving and seven incidents of breaking and entering. There were 11 damage-only traffic accidents and four accidents resulting in injury.

The Police would like to thank the public for their co-operation.

Trial set for man accused of assault

A 24-year-old man appeared in Magistrates? Court yesterday to face a grievous bodily harm with intent charge. Tariq Shakeen White, of Summit View Drive, Hamilton Parish, was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent on Gerald Outerbridge. The alleged incident happened on August 5. White was not asked to enter a plea because the charge is indictable.

A trial date was set for November 19.

Last month the court heard that White was the alleged victim of a stabbing.

Three men ? twins Jeron Marcus Douglas and Jevon Marco Douglas, both 19, and Niedel Swan were charged with attempting to murder him.

Driver escapes serious injury after accident

On Sunday, a Silver Subaru over turned on Harrington Hundreds Road, Smith?s, leaving the driver with cuts to her right arm.

The car was heading south on Harrington Hundreds Road when the driver lost control of it, slamming into a wall, which caused the car to turn over onto its roof.

The driver received abrasions to her right arm and the car was badly damaged.

A hospital spokesperson said she was treated at KEMH on Sunday and later released.

Man jailed for failure to pay fines

A 38-year-old man was locked up on Monday for not being able to pay his two-year-old fines.

Denzil David Simmons, of My Lord?s Bay Lane, Hamilton Parish, was convicted of escaping lawful custody on December 9, 2002 and fined $900.

Two warrants were issued for Simmons since his conviction but he told the court that he was not working anymore.

?I have trouble feeding myself,? he said. ?I can?t handle it. I?ll do the time.? Simmons was also fined $1,000 for driving while disqualified and opted to do jail time instead of paying the fine.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner sentenced Simmons to three months in prison for the unpaid fines.

American fined for marijuana possession

An American who uses marijuana to ease his breathing disorder and to sleep at night was fined $1,200 for possession in Magistrates? Court on Tuesday.

Brian McKennell, of Bellmore, New York, flew to Bermuda on a commercial flight on October 28 around 2.30 p.m. He was searched after drug dogs became interested in him in the baggage hall.

McKennell showed officers a Ziploc baggie containing 8.09 grams of marijuana which he took from inside his pants. The 48-year-old said he got the drug in New York and smoked it in order to breathe easy at night.

?I?m sorry for what I caused your country,? he told Senior Magistrate Archie Warner.