Bounty Killer charged for cursing

POLICE attending Saturday night’s Summerfest 2004 concert at the Queen’s Park Savannah were forced to run for cover after they were attacked by patrons following the arrest of Jamaican sensational dance-hall singer Bounty Killer (Rodney Price) which caused the show to be stopped. It was only after the officers fired several warning shots in the air that the crowd dispersed. According to reports, Bounty Killer came on stage around 12.55 am following the energetic performances of local artists Machel Montano and Denise Belfon. He was greeted with sustained applause by the crowd. After singing one of his hit tunes for five minutes, the Jamaican artiste burst into a series of expletives telling crowd in his Jamaican accent, “I have not been to TT for two years since they pulled the........ mike from me when last I appeared here with several other Jamaican artistes and for that I will giving Trinidadians a........ concert they would never forget.” It was then three officers walked on stage behind him and escorted him backstage.

Shortly after another Jamaican artiste Elephant Man who was carded to perform, said he would not do so unless Bounty Killer was allowed to return. The crowd was then entertained with disc jockey music while Bounty Killer was taken to the St Clair Police Station where he was charged with using obscene language. Sometime later, the crowd started becoming restless when they saw the DJs dismantling and moving out the boom boxes. An announcer then called for patience and said the lawyers of the promoter, Tri Star Promotions, were having discussions with the police. At around 3.30am, after hearing nothing more, the crowd started pelting the stage with  bottles, stones and other items. This situation continued that way until 4.45 am when the announcer confirmed that the show was over. The show was carded to end at 4 am.

There and then all hell broke loose as the spectators turned on the police and started pelting them, causing the police to scamper for safety, grabbing chairs to block their bodies. The attack only stopped when the sound of gun shots cracked the air. Bounty Killer who was carried to the St Clair police station was later transferred to the Central Police Station where he secured $25,000 bail from Justice of  Peace Mottley De Peza. When asked for a comment while leaving the station around 11.45 am he said “no comment.” He then exclaimed, “I love Trinidad and Tobago,” then quoted a line from one of his tunes “cross angry, me is a rebel.” Bounty Killer will appear before a Port-of-Spain magistrate today.