NASSAU- Taxpayers will shell out $83,000 in a police brutality case.
Meanwhile, Constable Courtney Hall, the officer responsible for the unprovoked attack, remains on the job after he was docked just seven days’ pay following a guilty plea before a disciplinary tribunal.
During the early morning hours of October 5, 2019, Hall approached Pedro Morley as he spoke to a woman outside Club Enve in downtown Nassau.
The off-duty officer asked Morley if he knew the woman and whether they were discussing him.
Hall then pulled a firearm from his waist and pointed it at Morley, causing him to fear for his life. Next Hall said he was a policeman.
Unsurprisingly, Morley left the club a short time later.
However, as he headed home a marked police car stopped Morley’s car near Big One shoe store on East Street and ordered him and his passenger to exit the vehicle.
They complied. Soon after, Hall arrived in his car and punched Morley twice in the mouth.
Two of Morley’s teeth loosened immediately—and six others were damaged.
Dentist Dr. Dante Bazard said that Morley needed an eight-unit bridge that cost $9,856 to repair his teeth.
Morley sued the officer, the Commissioner of Police, and the Attorney General.
The government did not defend the action.
In assessing damages, Assistant Supreme Court Registrar Renaldo Toote described Hall’s behavior as “high-handed and outrageous.”
Registrar Toote added, “From the evidence, it appears that the sole reason for the assault was to publicly showcase Hall’s machismo.”
Toote made a total award of $82,856, inclusive of the cost to repair his teeth and $18,000 in legal fees.
Bjorn Ferguson represented Morley and Luana Ingraham appeared for the government.
