The Tribune

BAHAMIAN track star Stephen Newbold ran away from the scene of an alleged shooting incident because he was confronted by someone aiming a gun at him, his lawyer said yesterday.

Only later did he learn that person was a police officer, Joshua Zelman told The Tribune.

Mr Zelman has been retained by Newbold to fight charges against him that were put last week, the attorney said in a statement.

He also said that Newbold was looking forward to competing in this week’s CARIFTA Games.

Newbold, 18, and fellow Florida State University athlete Josh Mance were arrested by US police around 4am last Thursday after a police officer responded to a 911 call and a citizen’s claim about two gunshots having been allegedly fired near the pool of the Campus Walk Apartment complex in Tallahassee.

Newbold was charged with resisting arrest without violence and discharging a firearm in a public place. Mance, who turned 21 on Thursday, was charged with resisting arrest without violence and possessing a fake identification.

Both have been indefinitely suspended from athletic activity at FSU. Newbold appeared in court on Friday and was released on a $1,000 bond to reappear in April.

According to the probable cause affidavit, a police officer arrived at the complex, headed towards the pool area, pointed his gun at a group of men he saw there and told them to put their hands up.

He then told another officer who arrived to ‘begin patting down the men’ to see who had a gun.

‘As soon as I made this statement one male, later identified as Stephen Newbold, fled the scene,’ the report says.

A witness claimed to have seen Newbold shoot a hand gun, says the report, which also says no one was struck by a bullet during the incident and no gun was found around the scene, although shell casing was located.

Mr Zelman said: “Newbold strongly disputes the charges, as he did not discharge a firearm.

“Law enforcement did not conduct any forensic tests to determine if he had recently discharged a firearm and no firearm was located.

“Although Stephen ran from the scene, he did so because he was confronted by someone aiming a gun at him. Only later did he learn the person was a police officer.

“For the time being, Stephen is focused on his studies and training and he is looking forward to competing this week in the CARIFTA Games being held in his native Bahamas.”