No bail for accused man in police chase
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/07/2022 (1319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A man accused of leading police on a vehicle chase around a downtown neighbourhood was denied bail Thursday afternoon.
Derek Blagdan is accused in the incident from late June. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty and the charges have not been tested in court.
On June 29, a Brandon Police Service officer was patrolling in an unmarked vehicle when they saw a white Hyundai Accent with Blagdan allegedly behind the wheel, said Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup.
The officer followed south over the Daly Overpass and activated their emergency lights. Blagdan reportedly spun the back end of the vehicle out in the intersection of 14th Street and Louise Avenue while trying to turn east, Lonstrup said.
He then allegedly drove onto the north sidewalk of Louise Avenue and continued east, not driving back onto the road until he reached a laneway. At the time, Lonstrup said there were pedestrians on the south sidewalk.
Officers turned off their emergency lights out of safety concerns, the Crown said, while Blagdan allegedly drove east on Louise Avenue at a “high rate of speed.” He reportedly went through a stop sign at 13th Street, which caused a white SUV to brake.
Police eventually found the vehicle in a parking lot west of the City Centre beer vendor with the passenger door ajar, he said. At the time, there was allegedly a machete with a brown handle wedged in between the driver’s seat and the middle console.
Lonstrup said the incident was of major concern as Blagdan allegedly put the public in danger. Officers searched for him at the time but couldn’t find him.
Blagdan was ultimately arrested on July 9, when he was allegedly seen riding a bike in a restaurant parking lot. At the time, Lonstrup said, he was reportedly found with a set of brass knuckles in his pants pocket and two knives in a bag.
Blagdan is also accused of driving while prohibited twice in 2021, once while allegedly with other people in the vehicle.
“When he sees police and he knows they’re after him, he drives away and puts his community in danger. This isn’t even the classic driving maybe a little bit extra faster on the highway, he’s doing this through Brandon city streets,” he told the court.
Lonstrup opposed Bladgan being released on bail.
Defence lawyer Anthony Dawson said Blagdan disputes some aspects of the charges.
He proposed a bail plan with conditions for the accused not to be in the driver’s seat of any vehicle.
Judge Patrick Sullivan said it wasn’t an easy decision, but he didn’t have faith Blagdan could follow court-ordered conditions if he is released and denied his bail
Blagdan is next scheduled to appear in court in late July.
» dmay@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @DrewMay_