Last night we told you about Darren Stuart Sr. and Jr - who were taken to court for a confrontation that they'd had with bus driver Deon Brenton Talbert. Darren Jr was charged for harm, while Darren Sr. was charged for aggravated assault and threatening words.
Turns out they were fighting over bus runs. Talbert drives for McFadzean bus while the Stuart's have their own bus line - both operating in the Belize River Valley. Darren Stuart says that McFadzean Bus has been running almost half an hour late, and encroaching on the time for his run.
Stuart says he has been complaining to the Department of Transport about the violation and its fallen on deaf ears, so in early June he had to take matters into his own hands. He felt his position wasn't reflected in the story we got form the court yesterday, so he agreed to an interview today - telling us his account of the confrontation:...
Darren Stuart Sr.
"This day in question on the 8th of June I stood there watching Mr. McFadzean pass me less than 30 seconds in front of my bus at 8 o' clock. I had enough, I am human this is my bread and butter we are talking about so I ran down the bus and I stop and I asked the driver, I didn't know Mr. McFadzean was on the bus, I asked the driver Deon Talbert why is it that you can't stick to your time and his response was, so what you will do about it. I'll be honest, I have a son that will always be there to protect me and my investment so he went around on Mr. McFadzean step and Mr. Talbert came up, stood in front of him as if though he wanted to hit my son but instead of doing that he turned around and picked up a screw driver from behind the steering wheel and my son is no fool, he is trained just like me in martial arts and he didn't hesitate he stick Mr. Talbert in his mouth with the right. Mr. McFadzean then pulled up because my son ran up in the corner of the isle. Mr. McFadzean start to push my son towards Mr. Talbert. This time I came into my bus with an extended baton. I have nothing to hide and said to Mr. Talbert if you were my son with that screw driver I would break your hand and I look around at McFadzean and I said if you draw weapon, because I know he has a licensed firearm, if you draw your weapon, I will crack your skull, because this is my bread and butter you are dealing with.
"Then Mr. McFadzean looked at me and said this Russell is causing his fault. I said go to the department and complain about Mr. Russell don't interfere with my time and I walked out of the bus and I went. I had no idea that Mr. Talbert was so soft and wanted to call the police. I took my charges, they charge me for aggravated assault because of the fact that I had a baton in my hand but I did not hit anyone and that is the true story. I am sticking to it."
Jules Vasquez
"This same sort of thing could happen again, because you are still being provoked you feel by the unethical business practices of your competitor. So every day you must feel your blood boiling."
Darren Stuart Sr.
"Unfortunately, that's true. Why can't they stick to their time? If they are having a problem with Mr. Russell go to the department, fix that problem, keep out of my time slot that is what I paid for and I am not going to back down. We will continue to have problems until the minister decide to fix or revoke my permit."
Jules Vasquez
"Your whole concern is that you don't want people in the public to think that you are somebody with a anger management problem or that if you get on Mr. Stuart bus and you don't pay him, he will knock you down."
Darren Stuart Sr.
"Definitely not, I have people come to me, they step up at the door, some of them come to the window and they said, boss I am short, I say let's go. The reason is that I have a lot of my patrons that they patronize me throughout the week. So when you are broke come see I will give you a drive that is who I am. I will give you a run."
Jules Vasquez
"Has the circulation of that famous video, where you were by all indications exceptionally restrained, because this person was being a harassment, has that affected you in any way? or affected your business in any way?"
Darren Stuart Sr.
"Not in a negative way. I'll be honest with you while I had no idea that the video would have gone viral, I personally got a lot of positive comments because of the fact that everybody could see that video was 2 minutes and 17 seconds and within that 2 minutes and 17 seconds I asked this guy 15 times to give me some space, walk away, leave me alone. So that's extreme restrain, this is who I am, this is the kind of person I am but like everything else it takes a straw to break a camel back."
Now, we stress there are two, and often three sides to every story - and this matter will ultimately be decided by the court.
Darren Stuart Jr is charged for the harm of Deon Brenton Talbert, while Darren Sr. is charged with aggravated assault using threatening words. One of the conditions of his bail is that he must stay away from Talbert.
Stuart Sr. says police discouraged him against making his own counter complaint.
Email
Print