LA Lewis arrested on warrant for failure to appear in court
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Controversial entertainer LA Lewis was arrested Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear before the St Catherine Parish Court to answer to charges of breach of the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA).
In a viral social video on Sunday, a plain-clothed policeman informed the handcuffed entertainer, whose real name is Horace Lewis, that a judge had issued a warrant for his arrest.
“… You Mr Lewis failed to appear at the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate Court on the 16th of March, 2021. As of such, Sir – Mr Lewis – there is a warrant for your arrest (for) breach of Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA),” the officer said while reading from a piece of paper.
“You will be taken into custody. You will be taken to court tomorrow (Monday). It is your right not to say anything… Thank you for your cooperation,” the officer further informed Lewis.
But the entertainer rebutted, insisting that he had not breached the DRMA.
In another video, Lewis is seen seated in what appeared to be a police station.
“That’s why dem want lock mi up true mi a tell di police dem and mi a tell di police dem don’t tek the vaccine. So a di vaccine ting mek yuh see dem a try kidnap mi now. This is unconstitutionally,” Lewis argued.
He added: “I am not a Jamaican citizen. Mi waive that right long time.”
The entertainer then went on to make unsubstantiated claims that the COVID-19 vaccine had killed a police officer.
However, before the video ended, the arresting officer informed Lewis that he will have to explain to the judge why he did not attend court for his case.
It is not immediately clear where Lewis was arrested or where he is currently being held in custody.
In relation to his alleged breach of the DRMA, it was reported that on October 3 of last year, about 2:45 pm, Lewis and other persons were protesting in Spanish Town, breaching the Government’s COVID-19 protocols by not wearing masks in public spaces.
The group was warned to leave the area, but Lewis and two other men among his entourage refused.
They were subsequently arrested and charged.
The self-styled dancehall artiste last appeared in court in the matter in March, when the judge ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation due to his behaviour in court.
Shortly after that court appearance, Lewis, in a social media video, indicated that he would file a lawsuit against the judge, insisting he was not mentally unstable.
