David Funes Charged With Assaulting, Threatening Police Inspector

A forty-seven-year-old maintenance worker from the Mile Eight community has pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault and making a threat of death against a police inspector. David Funes appeared before the Chief Magistrate today and was granted bail of eight hundred dollars, plus one surety of the same amount. The charges stem from an encounter with Inspector C. August at MD’s Shop at Mile Eight on October 1.  August, who is attached to the Mahogany Heights Police Station, alleges that Funes pushed him in the chest and threatened to kill him.  According to the officer’s report, he was carrying out special duties at the shop around seven that evening when he saw Funes drinking a beer outside. August says he approached Funes and told him he could not hang around there. He alleges that Funes walked toward the highway and made the threat. The officer says he then grabbed Funes, and a struggle followed, during which Funes fell before getting up and walking away.  During today’s arraignment, Funes’ daughter asked to address the court. She alleged that the officer had been bullying her father following the dismissal of an earlier case. She also disputed the objection to her father visiting the shop, saying the shopkeeper had no issue with him buying there and that it was the only shop in the neighbourhood. Those claims have not been determined by the court.  Funes’ daughter also told the Chief Magistrate that her father has a mental health condition and had previously been prescribed medication. She said she had requested his medical records but was told they would take another week to become available.  The Chief Magistrate urged her to obtain those records promptly so the court could better understand his condition when dealing with the case. She was also advised that she could sign bail for her father but would need to ensure he attends every court hearing.  Funes is due back in court on December 14.