Two years in jail following high-speed chase

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This article was published 16/07/2021 (1557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man was sent to jail for just under two years on Thursday after leading police on a chase that took him through multiple fences and yards.

Joseph Lindsay, 34, pleaded guilty to flight from police, driving while prohibited and other charges in Brandon provincial court.

Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup said the incident started on Sept. 7 at approximately 9:25 p.m., when the officer was patrolling in the south end of the city. 

He heard the loud noise of an engine revving and tires spinning on a gravel road, Lonstrup said.

He then saw a truck accelerating toward him with a large cloud of dust behind, Lonstrup said, before it slowed down.

The vehicle turned south toward Patricia Avenue and the officer turned on his emergency lights to pull it over. However, the truck accelerated westbound, ignoring the police, Lonstrup said.

The officer gave chase down gravel and paved roads west of the city as the truck sped through stop signs.

“(The truck) often drove in the wrong lane toward oncoming traffic, through private property, through the ditches and through fences,” Lonstrup said.

After driving through multiple barbed wire fences the truck began dragging a large amount of barbed wire, he said, which was sparking on the pavement and whipping back and forth.

Eventually, after driving through more fences, it stopped in a yard site and Linsday was identified as the driver, the Crown said. There was also a passenger in the vehicle.

The officer searching him and found approximately $500 in cash and other items.

Lindsay also pleaded guilty to driving while prohibited and a forcible entry charge from earlier in the summer of 2020.

Lonstrup suggested a total sentence of two years less a day in jail for all the charges. He said the Sept. 7 chase was prolonged and he put both police and the passenger in danger.

Lindsay’s defence lawyer said all the time Lindsay has so far spent in jail was during the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning it has been more difficult due to restrictions on movement and programming.

Some of the charges had strong evidence against Lindsay, he said, but others were weaker.

He jointly recommended the sentence with Lonstrup.

Judge John Combs said it was “depressing” to see Lindsay continue to go in and out of jail and he was unsure what would deter him from continuing to offend.

“Most people grow up by the time they’re 33 years old, they decide what they want to do with their life and in most cases it’s not spending it in jail, which is what you’re basically doing,” Combs said to Lindsay, who appeared in court over video.

Lindsay sat quietly while Combs spoke.

“All we can do is hope the lightbulb goes on and you decide you don’t intend to continue with your life the way it has been.”

He said high-speed chases with police are some of the most dangerous crimes, but he went along with the joint recommendation and sentenced him to two years in jail, minus time served, and one year of probation. 

He also banned him from driving for an additional two years. 

 

» dmay@brandonsun.com

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