By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
A CAUCASIAN man who continued to be disrespectful to the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday despite several warnings to behave himself was remanded in police custody until tomorrow.
Timothy Thiel, an American who claims he is trying to get citizenship here was defending himself against several charges including malicious damage to property.
Thiel who described himself as "a Rasta Christian Missionary" had pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct when he first appeared in court on Monday and was fined $3,000 or 30 days. He, however, pleaded not guilty to malicious damage to property, possession of ganja, dealing in ganja and assaulting a police officer.
Yesterday Thiel told the court he was upset as he had lost nearly $3,000 after the dollar had revalued by over $6.00 overnight and he did not get the value he expected from money he went to collect.
TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
After several warnings, Resident Magistrate Ms. Valerie Stephens finally lost her patience with him and ordered that he be taken into custody until Thursday when the case will continue.
Even then it took at least two police officers to escort the now raving man from the docks to the holding area in the court building. Thiel shouted that he was tired of being disrespected and would not stand for this kind of treatment anywhere in the world.
At one time while he was giving sworn evidence about what took place on May 21 when he was arrested, Ms. Stephens had to warn him sternly about his behaviour to the court, "It may not look like it to you but this is a court of law, Mr. Thiel and you will show some respect." Earlier she had police personnel in the court to stand close to him as she thought he was "getting out of control".
SLOW DOWN
Clerk of the court Mrs. Sandria Wong-Small who is leading the prosecution against Thiel had to ask the accused man several times to slow down and to conduct himself properly.
The accused man, who had earlier told the police he was Jamaican-born and from Oracabessa, St. Mary, said he was adopted and did not know his real parents but was taken to live with them in Wisconsin in the United States, had to be asked to behave himself in court a few times.
Thiel was arrested on May 21 when a police officer who was doing business in a Western Union office on Overton Plaza in the city heard a profanity laced tirade and investigated and saw it was the accused man. The court heard that the policeman identified himself and asked the man to stop using the profanity. It was heard, however, that Thiel also called him a thief.
Thiel left the office and the policeman followed him, the court heard. He ran but was held and when the officer tried to inspect his documents, he became violent grabbing the officer in his shirt tearing it and snapping off some buttons.
CALL FOR HELP
The court heard that the officer called for help and took Thiel to the immigration office that was in the same complex where he was questioned and told them he was from St Mary.
An inspection of his personal belongings showed a Wisconsin birth certificate and an identification card with his photo on it.
Loose ganja weighing about 1 1/4 lb was also found the court was told.
The court was also told there was no record of how Thiel got into the island.
