Nipper-carrying businessman freed in parking meter case

Aug 10, 2017 News

court says he was properly defending property

Businessman Timothy Tucker while he was being arrested back in February

Charges against city businessman, Timothy Tucker, for allegedly cutting free a boot placed on a car driven by his 21-year old daughter, was yesterday dismissed by Magistrate Annette Singh.
Tucker, who is represented by attorneys-at-law Devindra Kissoon of London House Chambers and Clevaugn Humphrey, had four charges brought against him- parking without a ticket, removal of a device, damage to property and assault to resist lawful arrest.
He was facing possible hefty fines and even imprisonment.
Kissoon extensively cross-examined City Constable Andel Valentine. The lawyer argued that it was Valentine who assaulted Tucker and that it was the businessman who acted to protect himself and his property.
Kissoon established that not only did Valentine not clamp the car, but he did not prove that Tucker was driving the car, or that any of the required notices were placed on the car.
At the close of the case, Kissoon made a no-case submission, stating Tucker had no way of knowing whether the boot was lawful…this was upheld by Magistrate Singh.
The court, in dismissing the charges, stated that the constable not only had no grounds for the arrest of Tucker in February, but that any corresponding arrest was unlawful and that the businessman was properly defending his property.
Tucker’s case been symbolic of the widespread disapproval against the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown (M&CC) for the parking meter project which it had greenlighted for the capital.
The businessman’s arrest had come after weeks of silent protests by prominent activists, business persons and even city workers.
Government stepped in and ordered the city to suspend the unpopular project, pending consultations.
With regards to Tucker’s case, the businessman had said that his daughter had parked in front of the Outdoor Store on Church Street.
After parking, she then entered the store to enquire whether pre-paid parking meter cards were being sold.
During this time, her eight year-old brother stood on the bridge leading to the store keeping an eye on the vehicle.
According to Tucker, since no parking receipt was on the vehicle, a warden placed a ‘boot’ on it. His son then called out to his sister, who returned and explained the situation. Tucker said he was out of town at the time and quickly returned after receiving a phone call from his daughter.
Upon arriving on the location, Tucker said that he exited his vehicle with a pair of shears. He said that when walking towards his daughter’s car, a city constable tapped him on his shoulder and said that he was under arrest. According to Tucker, he then asked the constable what was the charge since he did not cut anything. The man said he returned the shears to his vehicle, after which the constable grabbed him. Tucker said that he was then taken into custody and placed on bail.
The man said that the behaviour of the Smart City Solutions employees and the Police was reprehensible since their bullying cause his children to feel threatened to the extent that his son was already in tears when he arrived on the scene.

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