(CMR) Levon Rothwell Bodden, political hopeful for May 2021, was incarcerated over the weekend after failing to appear in court on Friday.
Finally appearing on Monday he shared that there was a “major issue we are having here” that resulted in him ended up in Northward for the weekend. He was the last person to be heard for the day after being brought out of the prison dock area.
In an unusual hearing, Bodden finally appeared before Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn on Monday to answer to a number of charges including breach of curfew, disorderly conduct and driving without being licensed. Bodden explained that he was at the courthouse on Friday and fell ill. Being in distress he asked the police to assist and they do so.
He, in turn, called 911 to send an ambulance for him but claims the police obstructed the EMT staff from getting to him after he expressed that he was in excruciating pain.
Magistrate Gunn was not the original magistrate that dealt with the matter and relied upon notes on the file. The file note indicated that he refused to come to court and was therefore remanded in custody.
A doctor's note provided to the was for another date, November 26 instead of December 4. He explained that his medical issues last days at a time and he went to the doctor on December 2 but they were unable to put another date on the note for him. He further explained that his chronic pain can be debilitating and as a result, he is indigent and unable to get out of bed sometimes.
Representing himself Bodden denied all the charges and shared that the accusation about him breaching soft curfew was fabricated by an officer who regularly harasses him and falsifies charges against him.
For the expired license, he noted that he had financial difficulties and did not know that it was expired and in any event, he was in lockdown. He further explained he was on the road in order to collect his medication.
At one point Magistrate Gunn expressed that she was confused by his explanations about the breach. She queried if it was that he did not recall being stopped or was he stated that he did not breach curfew. He said he had no recollection of the events.
The disorderly conduct relates to an incident on May 4 at the George Town Police Station where it's alleged he began shouting that “I am Caymanian, I have rights and F*** all you police.” On this offense, he also pleaded not guilty and requested the CCTV footage be pulled from the police station.
He didn't necessarily deny making those statements but explained that he simply responded to the officer he was dealing with and “matched his tone and abuse of power”. He pleaded not guilty and Magistrate Gunn requested the footage be pulled.
A trial date was set for March 18 for the breach of curfew and failing to surrender. The charge of disorderly conduct was left on the file pending the CCTV footage. He will return on January 21 for a case management hearing.
He was given conditional bail of $950 and asked to provide one surety before he could be released.
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