Popcaan, the well-known dancehall artiste, finds himself entangled in a legal web as a result of his explicit verbal outbursts directed at law enforcement officers who enforced the shutdown of his Unruly Fest in Yallahs, St. Thomas, in December, citing a violation of the scheduled time constraints.
The artiste, born Andre Sutherland, now faces a series of charges stemming from the incident. These include the use of indecent language, disorderly conduct, employing abusive and calumnious language, issuing threats to police officers, and violations of the Noise Abatement Act. The legal repercussions underscore the contentious aftermath of the Unruly Fest shutdown and the ensuing altercation, placing Popcaan in the spotlight not only for his musical prowess but also for the legal challenges he now confronts.
Dancehall luminary Popcaan, born Andrae Sutherland, found himself facing the legal ramifications of the tumultuous conclusion to the Unruly Fest stage show in December of the previous year, as he was served with five charges on Thursday, January 4.
The artist visited the Area 5 Police Headquarters in Kingston, where he received five summonses related to his alleged conduct during the staging of ‘Unruly Fest’ in Yallahs, St Thomas, spanning from Friday, December 22, to Saturday, December 23, 2023. The charges brought against him encompass the use of indecent language, disorderly conduct, employing abusive and calumnious language, issuing threats to police officers, and violations of the Noise Abatement Act.
The catalyst for these charges was the premature conclusion of the event when the promoters exceeded the allotted time. In widely circulated videos on social media, Popcaan expressed his displeasure vehemently, using expletives in a heated reaction to the unexpected shutdown.
Scheduled to appear in the St. Thomas Parish Court on Wednesday, January 10, Popcaan is set to navigate the legal proceedings with the support of his attorney, Bert Samuels. Samuels affirmed his readiness to represent Popcaan diligently, emphasizing the need for careful consideration in safeguarding the integrity of “reggae music” in light of this incident. The legal developments underscore the complexity surrounding the intersection of artistic expression and public order in the context of live performances within the dancehall genre.