Taylor delighted charges dropped

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica and West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor says he is delighted that charges brought against him for resisting arrest, improper conduct and assaulting a police officer were recently dismissed by the courts.

According to Taylor, the charges which were laid against him following an incident that took place in Bull Savannah, St Eliza-beth, on December 31, 2009 were dropped by the presiding judge after the officer in question failed to honour the requisite court date appointments.

"The prosecuting officer did not turn up for several of the follow-up court sessions, and after attending five sessions, the judge thought that it was a waste of the court's and my time," said Taylor, whose last court hearing was December 16 last year.

"It's a good feeling to know that it is over, as I never thought that I could have found myself in this situation," he added.

According to police reports, Taylor was arrested on the day of the incident shortly after midnight, when he became abusive to a police officer who had ordered the closure of the tavern where the player had been socialising, because its proprietor was operating beyond the 11 p.m. deadline.

Assault

Further, it was reported that the officer in question was assaulted by Taylor, after he tried to arrest him.

Taylor was taken to the Junction Police Station where he was charged with improper conduct, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

He was released from custody after posting $20,000 bail.

"I must say a big thank you to Digicel as throughout my court sessions, they, along with my family and close friends, gave me a lot of support," said the 26-year-old Taylor, who is currently engaged in Jamaica's West Indies Cricket Board regional four-day team.

Taylor, who is from St Elizabeth, made his Test debut as an 18-year-old against Sri Lanka in 2003.

One of his most accomplished performances to date was in February 2009 when he returned career-best figures of five wickets for 11 runs to lead the West Indies team to an innings and 23-run victory over England at Sabina Park.

He has so far taken 82 wickets in 25 Tests and is also a capable lower-order batsman, having scored a Test century (106) against New Zealand during the West Indies' tour of that country in 2008.

"Whenever I play for Jamaica or the West Indies, my aim is to always give my best and, as such, my fans and supporters can look out for me coming back and producing similar performances, such as the five for 11 that I claimed against England at Sabina Park," he said.