Troy Smith was today found guilty of using an offensive weapon and violently resisting arrest. *Photo by Kageaki Smith

Troy Smith was today found guilty of using an offensive weapon and violently resisting arrest. *Photo by Kageaki Smith

TUESDAY, JAN. 18: A man who accused police of assault has been found guilty of using an offensive weapon and violently resisting arrest.

Troy Smith, 28, was cleared of assaulting PC Richard Geraghty by Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo.

He pleaded guilty to using offensive words at an earlier hearing.

Smith, of Pembroke, suffered a broken nose, broken facial bones and a sprained jaw during an altercation with officers last summer.

A police investigation said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the officer.

Police were called to a domestic disturbance at Smith’s home in Spanish Point on July 4.

His mother, Gina Robinson, was arguing with her nephew, Jari Fishbacher, who was uncontrollable and being disrespectful.

The court heard Smith grabbed a croquet stick to defend his mother.

PC Geraghty and another officer arrived and saw Smith waving the stick.

They repeatedly asked him to drop it.

He told officers he had not done anything wrong but kept hold of the weapon.

Smith then dropped the stick and was pepper sprayed and tasered by PC Robin Evans. While delivering his verdict, Mr. Tokunbo said: “I have now reviewed all the evidence in this case and I can say the defendant’s behaviour was aggressive and profane.

“Anyone who was not party to the disturbance would not have had a clue that he was not involved or the cause of the dispute given the behaviour of the defendant.

“Any officer attending, given the defendant’s behaviour, would assume the defendant was the reason for their presence.

“It is clear the defendant was agitated and upset.

“However, his behaviour, especially once the police arrived, was irrational, offensive and volatile.”

The Magistrate ordered a social inquiry report and adjourned the matter until March 11.