between Police and a hostile crowd of 30 men near Loyal Hill in Devonshire last May, Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

The incident resulted in the arrests of at least 10 people, seven of whom face charges in the trial which began yesterday before Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl Ann Mapp.

Gladwyn Benjamin, 22, of Loyal Hill denied obstructing Police under the Misuse of Drugs Act, escaping lawful custody, and violently resisting arrest.

Six others, 27-year-old Franklyn Simmons of North Shore, Devonshire, Curry Smith, 20, of Loyal Hill, Michael Benjamin, 19, of Loyal Hill, Ashanti Smith, 19, of Hilldale, Smith's Parish, Derek Burrows, 28, of Morer Estate Road, Smith's Parish, and 24-year-old Darren Brangman of Cedar Park who was not in court, were all charged with helping Gladwyn Benjamin to escape and obstructing Police under the Summary Offences Act.

The five who appeared with Benjamin in court denied those charges. And Simmons denied a further charge of violently resisting arrest.

Acting on complaints about loud music and possible drug use at Pigs field, several hundred feet from Loyal Hill, Det. Con. Clinard Burgess said he and other narcotics officers in plain clothes and an unmarked car visited the area around 7.45 p.m. on May 25.

He said when Gladwyn Benjamin, who was sitting on a cycle talking to someone, saw Police he sped off in a westerly direction along the tracks leading to Pigs Field.

Benjamin ignored a Police siren and rode into the field where a crowd of 30 men had gathered, Det. Con. Burgess said.

He also said he saw Benjamin, who "appeared to be very nervous'', remove items -- a brown paper twist, a torn book of matches, Rizzla papers, and a torn cigarette -- from his pocket.

When Police informed Benjamin that he would be detained and further searched at Hamilton Police Station, Benjamin refused to go with them and violently struggled with them, Det. Con. Burgess said.

"At this time the group of men became hostile toward us and began pulling and shoving myself and Det. Con. (Robin) Sherwood. They were trying to pull the defendant away from us,'' he said, adding that Police back-up was called.

Det. Con. Burgess said as he and Det. Con. Sherwood struggled to place Benjamin in the Police car, Simmons began pulling Benjamin away from them.

He said as more Police arrived Simmons, who was told he was under arrest for obstruction, struggled with Sgt. Ian Coyles.

He said as he went to Sgt. Coyles' aid, he saw Benjamin running in a westerly direction.

Both Benjamin and Simmons were apprehended and placed in separate Police cars.

"The crowd was still hostile at this time and I saw Curry Smith push Det.

Con. Sherwood in the chest,'' Det. Con. Burgess said, adding that Smith was subsequently arrested.

He said Burrows was also arrested after he attempted to pull Benjamin away from Police. And all defendants were handcuffed and taken to the Police station where they were searched and detained.

But under cross examining from Ashanti Smith's lawyer, Mr. Delroy Duncan, Det.

Con. Burgess admitted that the incident could have been described "as fast and fluid with people moving all over the place'' and he was distracted at various times.

Det. Con. Burgess also admitted that he made a mistake in his notes written shortly after the incident, which stated Det. Con. Sherwood "found the items''. He said he stood by his court testimony that Benjamin removed the items from his pocket.

He also admitted that no drugs were found on any of the accused.

The other defendants, who are unrepresented, were also allowed to cross examine Det. Con. Burgess.

The trial continues today.