Friday, July 31st, 2015. Aaron Humes Reporting: For no apparent reason, 42 year old former taxi driver Lincoln Moguel had the urge to take a police pickup from their headquarters and attempt to drive it away.
He didn’t get very far, and today he was lucky to avoid jail time because he reportedly suffers from mental health issues. Moguel was fined $1,000 by Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith on a charge of taking a conveyance without lawful authority.
On April 27, 2014 around 11:05 a.m. police constable Janel Myers was at Racoon Street Police Station, Eastern Division Headquarters, when she saw Moguel get into a police pick-up parked in the compound, throw it into reverse and attempt to head out of the compound onto Racoon Street itself. She chased him down and stopped him getting away.
Moguel claimed in court that he was set up and did not commit the offence. He further claimed that he was given neither charge sheet nor disclosure. But the Chief Magistrate believed otherwise and advised him to get medication for his issues.
Moguel was evaluated before trial by a psychiatrist who reported him fit to stand trial. The fine is due by December 31, 2015. If he defaults, he spends six months in jail.