Youth charged with escaping police custody on $50,000 bail

An 18-year-old who was charged with escaping police custody, was yesterday granted bail despite objections from the prosecutor.

Ryan Gasper pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read by Magistrate Faith McGusty in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

It was alleged that Gasper, on December 11, 2018, at Ruimveldt Police Station, having been in lawful custody for the offence of robbery-under-arms, escaped from police custody.

Prosecutor Seon Blackman objected to bail and told the court that Gasper is a flight risk, considering the fact that he tried escaping from the police. Blackman also mentioned that there were difficulties locating Gasper once before, after he was granted bail for another matter.

Attorney George Thomas, however, told the court that the previous matter in question was dismissed and he doesn’t understand why the police were trying to locate his client.

Blackman then asked that conditions be attached if bail should be granted.

Magistrate McGusty subsequently granted Gasper bail in the sum of $50,000 and the matter was adjourned until March 20, 2019.