Western Bureau:

Resident Magistrate Evan Brown yesterday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a policeman who failed to show for court in a case he is investigating.

Special Corporal Dezroy Holness, attached to the Santa Cruz Police Station in St. Elizabeth, could be arrested and held in custody, in principle, until May 28, when the matter is next brought before the court.

"A police officer who is either a witness in a case or is the investigating officer in a matter and who fails to show up in court at the hearing is liable to be arrested. That can be interpreted as an insult to the court," said a legal official who spoke with The Gleaner.

According to information contained in documents which were tendered in court yesterday, Special Corporal Holness and other members of a police party had gone to investigate a domestic dispute involving Elvis Patterson and his child's mother at their home in Boulevard district in Santa Cruz.

Upon arriving at the premises, it is alleged that Patterson was seen smoking ganja at the back of the house. He was arrested and charged with the offence and brought before the court. On a previous occasion, the corporal was present at court and was bound over to return to court yesterday.

However, when it was established that he was not in court, RM Brown ordered that a warrant be issued for his arrest.