A taxi driver from Diego Martin, who was struck on his face with the butt of a rifle by a police officer, is set to receive a little over $60,000 in compensation.
Late last month, High Court Judge Margaret Mohammed approved a consent order under which the Office of the Attorney General accepted liability for the incident and agreed to pay $62,791.08 in damages to Kyle Yearwood for the case to be discontinued.
According to the evidence in the case, on October 2, 2018, Yearwood was hired to pick up a woman from a birthday party in Big Yard, Carenage, and drop her at her home in Diego Martin.
Shortly after picking up the woman around 11.45 pm, Yearwood was stopped by four police officers in a marked police vehicle.
After the officers inspected his driver’s permit and insurance policy, one of the officers accused him of smelling of alcohol and of being intoxicated.
After Yearwood firmly denied the accusation, the officer hit him in the face with the butt of his rifle.
The officers then left Yearwood and his passenger at the scene.
Yearwood drove to the St James District Hospital where he received medical treatment for lacerations on his lips and cracked teeth.
Yearwood reported the incident at the St James Police Station and subsequently to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).
In July 2019, PCA Deputy Director Michelle Solomon-Baksh wrote to Yearwood indicating that the case had been referred to the Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further action based on the PCA’s investigation.
However, none of the officers involved were ever charged for the attack on Yearwood.
Through the lawsuit, Yearwood was seeking compensation for his dental bill as well as for the pain, suffering, embarrassment and anxiety he endured.
Yearwood was represented by Abdel Mohammed, while Chantelle Le Gall represented the State.
