SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine — A 29 year-old man who claimed, during a routine traffic stop, that he was a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, was yesterday fined $20 or three months in jail when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate’s Court.

Convicted for impersonating a police officer is Patrick McDonald from Braeton, St Catherine. Senior Resident Magistrate Lorna Gayle found him guilty and handed down his sentence after consulting the Jamaica Constabulary Force Act.

Constable Ricardo Vernon told the court that about 7:15 on the evening of November 25, 2003 the police were conducting a spot check along the Spanish Town bypass near the Jose Marti High School.

He added that a red Honda motor car was signalled to stop, McDonald alighted from the vehicle and identified himself as a policeman stationed to the Hundred Man police station in Portmore. He also told cops that he was carrying a firearm, Constable Vernon said.

He was then searched and a black plastic gun taken from his waistband.

After persistent questioning by the cops, McDonald then changed his story, saying he was not an police officer but a district constable.

He was taken to the Spanish Town police station where he was arrested and charged.

In court yesterday, the imitation weapon, which contained a magazine, was tendered into evidence.

“This is the best imitation firearm I have ever seen in my years of policing,” said Detective Corporal Carey Duncan, who was in court.

McDonald, who is often at the Hundred Man police station, is also known to provide security for two delivery men from the Spanish Town Road-based office of a well-known company. His fee, according to Observer sources, is $1,000.