TWO Route 45 minibus operators were, on Monday, February 18, 2019, arraigned before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus, following a video circulating on social media, allegedly showing the men assaulting a traffic officer and resisting arrest.

Carlos Bacchus, a 29-year-old bus driver, and Troy Peters, a 34-year-old minibus conductor, both of Victoria, East Coast Demerara, made their appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer to three charges each.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that, on February 13, 2019, at Hinck Street, Georgetown, the defendants assaulted Police Constable Joel Samuels, who was performing his duties.

The last two charges alleged that, on the same day, Bacchus and Peters behaved disorderly in public and resisted being arrested by Constable Samuels.

Bacchus and Peters pleaded not guilty to the three charges and their attorney, Everton Singh-Lammy, made an application for bail.

Singh-Lammy, during his application for bail, told the court that officer Samuels and Bacchus were known to each other, since they were both involved in a relationship with the same woman, but Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris strongly opposed to the duo being released on bail.

“A strong message should be sent out to minibus operators about assaulting police officers,” Harris told the court.

According to the police reports, on the day in question, Constable Samuels was on duty when he saw minibus BTT 9235 loading passengers on the southern side of Hinck Street and obstructing the flow of traffic.

The officer approached the minibus and contacted Bacchus, who was the driver, but Bacchus and his conductor, Peters, got out of the vehicle and started to behave disorderly, although the officer told them to stop.

A confrontation ensued and the two minibus operators began assaulting the police officer. Public-spirited persons intervened and a police patrol was summoned.

Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus overruled the prosecutor’s objection and released the men on $60,000 bail each. The matter was adjourned until March 11, 2019.