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All charges against 82-year-old Stedman Scotland have been dismissed by Magistrate Dexter Wason following a controversial arrest that sparked public outrage.
Scotland, who faced six charges including Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest, Battery on Police, Failing to Give Name, Failing to Comply with Lawful Direction, and Threatening Language, appeared in court Thursday morning.
Acting Chief Magistrate Wason threw out all charges to rightfully serve justice.
The incident gained widespread attention after video footage circulated showing several police officers forcefully arresting Scotland outside a St. John’s barber shop.
The footage shows an officer in uniform handcuffing the elderly man, dragging him on the ground, and placing him in the trunk of an SUV.
According to witnesses, Scotland, a disabled driver, had been sitting inside the barber shop near Long and Thames streets when an officer approached demanding he move his vehicle from the sidewalk.
Scotland reportedly went to move his vehicle but was confronted by the officer who claimed he “had taken too long.” When Scotland returned to the barber shop, the situation escalated rapidly.
Witnesses report the uniformed officer pulled Scotland from his chair and pushed him, causing him to fall to the floor.
Bystanders inside and outside the establishment protested the officers’ actions and pleaded with them to handle the elderly man with care.
The March 7 arrest has triggered an investigation into police conduct, with many community members criticizing the excessive force used against the 82-year-old man.
The entity that should be charged carried the entity that should not be charged to court??????
I wonder how this officer feels now. Must be a disappointment to the RPFAB. Such a shame that you tried to have this man charged and all is dropped. Police have no respect for us but wants us to have respect for them
Here’s to the elderly! Break all the laws you want to -after all you’re on your last leg. Disrespect law enforcers, abuse them even, whether verbally or physically. Refuse to yield to their instructions. After all, you are an old decrepit man, possible living out your last days. Maybe as a young man you wanted to be an outlaw but were afraid. A watchful mammy or granny or neighbour kept you in line, perhaps. So why not now. As an old man, who should be home, or in a Home enjoying the company of grand or great grandchildren, you are living out your fantasies. And being given local hero status at that!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Maybe a petition will soon follow that you be accorded a State federal when your time comes! For nonentity jokers like wason, whose comfort level resides in playing to the gallery, good for you. Liven up de Party!
BUT, old man, you are, in reality, no hero, no victim, no role model. You, from all reports, turned a simple incident into an unnecessary stand off. You, a wrong-and-“strong” old man, opted to challenge the younger, stronger law enforcement officers, and naturally lost! Lost, despite the generosity of wason and the platform provided by another loser, wehner.
You sound so dunce. Why do u even bother to comment on articles. Chupz u sickening now man. How the elderly man wrong.?????.. some ppl chat them tinking mouth too much.
Sir, madam I am not here to say who was right or wrong because after all I was not there but my argument is two wrongs doesn’t make a right and according to the video that is being circulated the police did not do a good job police officers are supposed to be trained to deal with situations and this is clearly not the way you deal with Someone.
Faithful national has a point. I have an issue with how he was dragged and tossed in the boot of the vehicle. Considering this age and his medical condition I believe they should have handled jom better. But he broke the law and should just abide with law enforcement. He was a bit rude to them
That was the only appropriate course of action that could have been taken. I mean come on. The police acted with excessive force.
The young man who went viral for keeping his cool would have done a better job