after being found guilty of violently resisting arrest and admitting possessing cannabis.

But Senior Magistrate Will Francis found Jah Rome Cann Hill not guilty of assaulting a Policeman around 10 p.m. on February 7 this year.

Mr. Francis said he had learned something about Hill's nature during Wednesday afternoon's trial, but his actions "made a bad thing worse''.

He added: "I've gotten a good read of you. I don't know what got into you that night.'' He fined Hill $300 for possessing 2.3 grams of cannabis and $300 for resisting arrest. Hill must pay the fines by September 18 or face 40 days in jail.

Mr. Francis said he was certain a struggle took place during the arrest but he was not sure of Hill's intent "if in a five minute struggle, someone gets hit in the face''.

Mr. Francis heard testimony from the arresting officers P.c. Michael Cox and P.c. Bryan Paul who said they saw Hill run a stop sign while traveling south on King Street.

P.c. Cox said that while P.c. Paul was issuing a ticket he noted Hill was perspiring, incoherent, and agitated and nervous.

He said he told Hill he would be searched and found a brown paper twist with plant material in a pants pocket.

He added that Hill blocked his attempts to search inside a jacket pocket and struggled with him until P.c. Paul drew his Police ASP baton.

"I was punched at least twice on the left side of my face by the defendant's right fist,'' he said.

P.c. Paul told the court he "thought it necessary'' to draw the baton "to protect myself and P.c. Cox''.

Under questioning by Hill, P.c. Paul admitted P.c. Cox asked him to draw the baton but denied that he was asked to use it.

Hill said he allowed P.c. Cox to search his pants pocket but he had forgotten the cannabis in his jacket.

He also said he was in a head lock and thought the struggle went on for five minutes.

Questioned by prosecutor Insp. Anthony Mouchette, Hill said: "I am not going to just hit a Policeman. I would go all out if I did. I never punched him or nothing.''