The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

THE 23-year-old man who was filmed fighting an officer who attempted to arrest him over a traffic violation was yesterday sentenced to eight months in prison.

He was also ordered to make a public apology to the officer he assaulted.

Last week, Julien Butler appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt charged with driving in a manner dangerous to the public while not being covered by third party risk insurance nor having a valid licence.

The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on Tonique Williams Darling Highway on July 5. At the time, two officers were involved in an altercation with Butler after they tried to arrest him for reckless driving.

The court was told that around 2.30pm that day, PC Smith was on motorcycle patrol in the Market Street area when he observed Butler, who was on a scooter, run a traffic light on Cordeaux Avenue. He said after he beckoned for him to stop, he approached Butler and asked him to produce his driver’s licence. When the accused could not, he went back to his police motorcycle to get a fixed penalty book.

However, when the officer did this Butler jumped back on his scooter and sped off. PC Smith pursued him. During the chase, Butler was said to have driven his scooter against the flow of traffic. He also failed to stop until he lost control of his scooter and fell on the ground.

In his report, PC Smith said when he attempted to dismount his own motorcycle, the accused charged at him in an aggressive manner and began striking him in his face with a closed fist.

The prosecution said when PC Smith attempted to subdue Butler, he realised the accused was attempting to disarm him. He said some time later Sergeant 3395 Strachan “came out of nowhere” and instructed Butler to stop resisting while having his police service weapon in a low ready position.

Butler was represented by attorney Glendon Rolle. In his plea in mitigation, he noted his client was “totally apologetic and remorseful” for his actions. He also said given the “traction” of the case, it would be prudent to allow Butler to partner with the Royal Bahamas Police Force in their community department to do community service. Mr Rolle said he believed a collaboration would be “most honourable” as it would display someone who acted in poor taste “coming together” with officers.

In response, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt said the fact that the case was highly publicised online did not move her. She also noted the matter could have escalated to “something far greater” if Sgt Strachan was not there to intervene. She said this fact alone made her “shudder” when she thought of “what could have happened.”

As a result, she fined Butler $1,000 or four weeks behind bars for the driving offences. The accused was also sentenced to eight months in prison for assaulting PC Smith and three months for resisting arrest. Both sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

Yesterday, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt also ordered Butler to make a public apology to PC Smith who was present at the hearing. When he did, Butler said he “truly was sorry for his behaviour”. He also said he wanted to “apologise to the law enforcement system and the country” and insisted his behaviour would not happen again.

Butler was allowed to speak with some of his relatives briefly before he was taken into custody.