Judge warns windshield wiper to find a job

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:A St James man who resisted the police when they arrested him for wiping windshields at a traffic intersection was told to return to the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court for sentencing on October 7.

Twenty-seven-year-old Anthony Smith, of Paradise, Norwood, pleaded guilty to offering services as a windshield wiper without a licence, disorderly conduct, abusive language, and resisting arrest when he appeared in court on Monday. He was ordered by the court to secure a proper job, while a social enquiry report was ordered to help determine his sentence.

The court was told that on July 31, approximately 12:30 p.m., Smith was cleaning a windshield at the stop light by the intersection of Howard Cooke Boulevard and Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay when the light changed to green. The vehicle moved off and Smith told the driver not to move.

The investigating officer, who was in the area, told Smith to desist haranguing the motorist, but Smith responded with indecent language.

The officer then held on to Smith, who pulled away while declaring that he would not go to jail. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

"Although there are a lot of young people on the streets wiping windshields, it is a busy intersection, and you cannot tell the driver to wait because traffic is piling up," presiding magistrate, Winsome Henry, scolded Smith. "Didn't you curse the officer?" the magistrate asked.

"No, Your Honour, not him," said Smith.

"Well, who were you cursing?" the RM pressed.

"Nobody, Your Honour. The officers started to 'handle' me up. They said that they were going to arrest me," Smith answered.

"Don't you have anything better to do than to wipe windscreens at age 27?" asked Henry.

"I will try to get something, Your Honour," Smith promised.

"I am going to ask for a social enquiry report for you. You are not to be seen wiping windscreens, or any screens, in Montego Bay, and I'm going to ask you to find a job," the magistrate warned Smith. "On October 7, you are going to say to me, 'I've found something to do'," she added.