Jan 29, 2010
Man Steals Bus From Churchyard During Church Service
43 year old Patrick McMasters, of a Gutters address in St. Catherine, appeared before the Old Harbour Resident Magistrate’s court recently, where he faced charges of driving away a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, and obtaining credit by fraud.
Allegations are that on December 31, 2009 at approximately 8:30 p.m., McMasters went into a churchyard (during the Church’s New Year’s Eve watch night service) at Spring Village, St. Catherine, where a Toyota Hiace minbus was parked with the keys in the ignition. He allegedly drove away the bus, and also reportedly went to a gas station along the Old Harbour Road, asked for $5000 diesel oil, and after being served, he drove away without paying.
At about 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day, McMasters was stopped at a police roadblock, and subsequently arrested after he failed to provide the police with the bus’ documents.
McMasters pleaded not guilty to the charges in court, and was remanded into custody for psychiatric evaluation. He is to return to court on February 25, when his case will be mentioned again.
