KnightSILKY SMOOTH and easy. That is the kind of image The Sheriff - K.D. Knight - often tries to portray.
His felt hat was, however, unceremoniously tilted by the most unlikely of persons - a mentally ill man who walked onto a political platform and slapped the former Minister of National Security and Justice across the face.
Mr. Knight, an attorney, who specialises in criminal law, was standing at the podium when the man walked out of the huge crowd, through a sterile area and on to the stage, where he hit The Sheriff.
The man was whisked away by police, much to the dismay of the thousands of Knight lovers who had gathered for what turned out to be a massive party rally.
His own backyard
Although embarrassed, The Sheriff, who was in his own backyard, continued doing the business of chairing the meeting of what seemed like more than 10,000 orange-clad, "Portia"-screaming supporters.
"Give me a 'Wow'," Mr. Knight said whenever he introduced a new speaker. And with every move to the podium, Mr. Knight had his stick.
Despite the attack, PNP General Secretary Donald Buchanan has said there is no need to revisit security arrangements for political rallies.
"We don't have any reason to review our security arrangement," Mr. Buchanan. "Yes, there was a lapse in security at the very beginning, and this allowed for this unfortunate incident."
When the party President, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, arrived at the rally more than an hour later, her security detail ensured that she would not suffer a similar fate. Her vehicle was driven very close to the stage and more than a dozen men acted as a body shield while Mrs. Simpson Miller raced from her car to the podium.
Meanwhile, up to press time yesterday, the man who hit Mr. Knight, remained in police custody. He has not been charged.
It is the second time in consecutive elections that The Sheriff's collar has been ruffled.
Two months before the 2002 general elections, Mr. Knight was involved in a with the JLP's Dr. Raymoth Notice.
Like Sunday's incident, this took place in the East Central St. Catherine constituency. However, the 2002 incident occurred outside a bar in Sligoville. Then, both men collared each other before Mr. Knight's bodyguards and two JLP councillors stopped the unsanctioned bout.
