KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man who was facing additional charges of possession of and dealing in cocaine had those charges dropped after forensic analysis revealed that the substance he was arrested with was a type of paste, not cocaine.

Troy Jackson was, however, remanded in custody on the initial charge of robbery with aggravation when he appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

According to court documents, the complainant, a voluntary worker, had refused to give the accused a care package. It is alleged that when the complainant was walking along the road with the care package, Jackson used a knife to rob the complainant.

But Jackson, who said he was doing garbage truck work at the time, told the court that he had only picked up a tissue, a roll-on and soap from the ground.

Correcting Jackson stating that he stole the items, Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell said, “But I never see any tissue tree yet. You stole the items.”

He was assigned legal aid for his next court date on January 13, 2025.

Jackson was remanded in custody.

— Kelsey Thomas