Prison inmate Kevin Dawson, 23, charged with drug trafficking of 249 grams of cannabis, tricked police and gained his freedom yesterday when he appeared in the #6 Magistrate’s Court in the morning and answered to the name of Frederick Flowers, 21, whom he met while he was in the cellblock at Queen Street Police Station.
Flowers was charged with the possession of 11.6 grams of cannabis.
Dawson – as Flowers- pleaded guilty to the charge. Magistrate Sharon Fraser fined him $300 and gave him until November 30 to pay the fine. She told him that if he defaults on payment, he will serve 3 months. Dawson then walked out of the courtroom a free man.
Police did not learn about the switch of identities and charge sheets between Dawson and Flowers until Flowers – in the name of Dawson – was taken to the #2 Magistrate’s Court that same day, in the afternoon, to answer to Dawson’s charge of drug trafficking.
Flowers told police that his name was Flowers, not Dawson. Flowers was then taken back to the cellblock.
The police are searching for Dawson, but so far they have not located him. Dawson is serving 5 years for burglary.