Gun Court for municipal cop charged for allegedly hitting taxi operator with firearm during dispute

The Portmore, St Catherine municipal police officer who is charged with allegedly using his weapon to hit a taxi operator during an argument that developed into a fight is to go before the Gun Court on December 10.

Thirty-eight-year-old Trevan Clarke is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault at common law, and using a firearm to commit a felony.

The court date was set when he appeared before the parish court on Friday.

Clarke’s $100,000 station bail was renewed by Acting Senior Parish Court Judge Janelle Nelson-Gayle.

His attorney, Orville Morgan, told the court that his client acted in self-defence.

Meanwhile, the taxi operator, Shamar Maitland, who is the complainant in the case against the policeman, is also facing a charge in relation to the incident and appeared before the parish court on Friday.

Maitland, who is out on station bail, is charged with assault occasioning bodily harm.

He is to go back to court on January 20, 2026, when the matter will again be mentioned.

Allegations from the Portmore police are that about 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 9, Clarke physically assaulted Maitland after an altercation developed between them over a vehicle the man used as a taxi.

It is further reported that during the fracas, Clarke brandished his firearm, struck the man in his face, and then pointed it at him.

A report was made to the police, and an investigation was launched into the matter.

Clarke turned himself in on Tuesday, November 11, and was subsequently charged.

- Rasbert Turner

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