By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A SECURITY officer said he unknowingly became an accessory to his relative’s crime after he was tricked into giving his cousin a ride to pick up a box of marijuana he claims he thought contained building tools.
Demetrio Rolle is currently on trial before Samuel McKinney after officers found $42,000 worth of Indian hemp in his car next to his young son in February.
His co-accused, Winston Gibson, pleaded guilty to dangerous drug possession with the intent to supply at their arraignment and was convicted.
However, as Rolle denied the allegation at his first court appearance, his case was adjourned for trial.
When he took the stand yesterday, he said on the day in question, he was at home when he received a call from Gibson, who told him he needed a ride to work.
The court was told that Gibson, who worked as a carpenter, is Rolle’s cousin.
The accused said when he picked Gibson up, the man told him he had to get his tools from a residence on Fire Trail Road. He said when he drove his cousin there, a “person had a box waiting for him by the door.”
“Fifteen minutes later, we were pulled over by police,” he told the court. “My two-year-old son was with me. I never thought to look in the box because my cousin was dressed in steel-toe boots and a painted-up shirt, so I actually believed he was picking up his tools for work.”
Rolle said when the police questioned them, he told them he had just come from Fire Trail Road with his cousin to “pick up some of his stuff.”
However, he said when police searched his car and pulled out the box, they discovered 42.2 pounds of marijuana in it and he realised that he had been lied to.
“When I realise what was happening, I swing at my cousin and lost it in front of the officers,” he stated.
“He didn’t tell me what was going on. Now I mix up even though he told me he was going to plead guilty in court.”
In cross-examination, Rolle said this incident was not the first time he had given his cousin a ride.
He also denied taking his son along with him and Gibson on their drug run to the “Rasta camp” so their trip would not look suspicious when the prosecution suggested the notion.
“I would never jeopardise my child’s life like that,” he insisted.
After Rolle testified, his defence counsel closed his case. They return to court November 18 to present closing submissions.
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