Christ Church man fined $1,000 for biting officer during cocaine arrest

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Christopher Best, 57, bit a police constable on the wrist while resisting arrest in Dover. A magistrate ordered him to pay $1,000 compensation or serve a month in prison.

Christ Church craftsman fined $1,000 after biting constable during drug arrest

A 57-year-old craftsman from Pilgrim Road, Christ Church, has been ordered to pay $1,000 in compensation to a police officer he bit on the wrist during his arrest, Barbados Today reports. Christopher O'Brian Best pleaded guilty to assault and cocaine-related charges before Magistrate Shakieda Sealy in the No. 1 District 'A' Magistrates' Court.

Best admitted assaulting PC Joshua Kishna in the execution of his duties, as well as possessing, trafficking and possessing with intent to supply 4.6 grammes of cocaine. The cocaine carried an estimated street value of $213.

Sergeant Victoria Leacock told the court that officers were conducting a policing exercise at Dover, Christ Church, around 3 p.m. when Best was seen running. Officers gave chase and apprehended him. A search of his person, during which he struggled violently, uncovered cocaine in his trouser pocket.

Best was initially restrained by a female officer. As he attempted to break free, PC Kishna moved in to assist. It was at that point that Best bit the constable on the wrist.

Addressing the court, Best offered his own account of events. He said the cocaine had been "very, very close to where I was sitting," which he gave as his reason for pleading guilty to the drug charges, adding that he believed he only had cannabis on him at the time.

On the matter of the biting, Best told the court: "I already had on the handcuffs, I was trying to eat the 10 bag I had from him, but the officer was trying to get he hand in my mouth, and that was how he get bite." He said he had no intention of wasting the court's time and asked for leniency.

Magistrate Sealy noted that Best had "quite a conviction card," with 49 previous convictions on record. She acknowledged, however, that he had remained out of trouble since 2015.

She ordered him to pay the $1,000 compensation to PC Kishna or serve one month in prison in default. On the drug possession charge, Best was placed on a six-month bond to keep the peace. He was reprimanded and discharged on the remaining offences.

Source: Barbados Today