Tourist pepper-sprayed in fight with police

A tourist who was pepper-sprayed after he became drunk and committed a string of offences including assaulting a cop, was slapped with more than $5,000 in fines and compensation orders when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards this week.

The 51-year-old American offender, Brian Lynn Klanow, was charged with assault on police, resisting arrest, criminal damage, disorderly conduct, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Reports are that business operator Gertrude Callwood telephoned the police on May 4 and reported that a tourist was at a business-place on Jost Van Dyke acting in a disorderly manner.

She further reported that the tourist damaged her employee’s laptop computer.

A member of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, who went to the scene, met the Caucasian tourist at the bar area of the establishment.

The court heard that the tourist was under the influence of alcohol.

He was informed about the report made against him.

The tourist started to misbehave in police presence. The cop told him to desist from doing so, but he reportedly refused to comply.

He became aggressive, the court heard. The police officer tried to restrain him, but he (the tourist) started to wrestle with the cop.

Injured

It is said that the lawman sustained a finger injury during the struggle.

The tourist was pepper-sprayed, subdued, and placed in a pair of handcuffs.

During a police interview some time later, the tourist reportedly admitted that he had too much to drink, adding that he could not remember the incident.

He was charged.

When he first appeared before Senior Magistrate Richards last Friday, the tourist was remanded for the weekend.

He, during another appearance this week, was fined $500 for assault on the police officer. He will serve 30 days in prison if the fine is not paid.

The tourist was also ordered to pay $2,000 in compensation to the cop forthwith.

Furthermore, he was fined $500 for resisting arrest. If this fine is not paid, he will spend 30 days at Her Majesty’s Prison.

As it relates to the charge of criminal damage, the senior magistrate said the tourist was “convicted, reprimanded, and discharged”. He must pay $400 in compensation for the damaged laptop.

Regarding the disorderly conduct charge, the United States citizen was sentenced to “time served” in prison already.

Magistrate Richards then slapped him with a $2,000 fine for the charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The offender will serve four months at Her Majesty’s Prison if this fine is not paid.