Rafael Lancelot O’Brien is the 32-year-old security guard, who was caught in a now viral video attempting to resist being arrested by police. In that same video, O’Brien is seen putting an officer in a chokehold and has now found himself in more trouble with the law after being charged with assault of a police officer. To answer to a number of charges, he appeared before Magistrate Stephanie Gillett and pleaded guilty to resisting arrest, using obscene language in the presence of a police officer, and assault of a police officer. According to police, on Wednesday, December 2, they were passing a shop in Lord’s Bank when they saw someone not wearing their mask. That person was approached by the officers and that is when O’Brien intervened.
He explained to the court that he only acted on the aid of a coworker, who he felt the police approached wrongly for not wearing a mask. He says that while he used obscene language, it was out of frustration and not to the officer. While attempting to walk away, he says that he was grabbed by the shoulders which caused him to be aggressive in his reaction and putting the officer in a chokehold.
Magistrate Gillett explained to him that his actions could not be condoned and fined him $1,000 plus a $5 cost of court for assaulting the officer. He was fined another $300 for resisting arrest and the charge of using obscene language was withdrawn. He has until February 28, 2021 to pay his fines or faces jail time.
