Man accused of trying to flee from police denied bail
By Lethbridge Herald on May 8, 2020.
Delon Shurtz
Lethbridge Herald
dshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A 25-year-old Lethbridge man accused of trying to flee from police in a stolen vehicle in March isn’t getting out of custody anytime soon.
After sitting in remand since his arrest March 20, Anthony Douglas Johnston was denied bail during a hearing Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court.
Judge Gregory Maxwell refused Calgary lawyer Robin McIntyre’s application to release Johnston, even though her client was prepared to post $500 of his own money for bail, and a friend was willing to post $1,000 surety. She also said Johnston could live with the surety and be subject to conditions of house arrest.
Johnston is charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, driving while uninsured, operating a motor vehicle while prohibited, flight from police, dangerous driving and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Police reported they were looking for a stolen Ford Explorer when they saw it March 20 in the Dairy Queen drive-through on Mayor Magrath Drive South. As officers tried to trap the vehicle to prevent the driver from fleeing, he drove into a police vehicle then into the side of a Motel 6 office building.
The driver tried again to evade police but eventually gave up and was arrested. Two passengers in the vehicle were also taken into custody.
Police searched the vehicle and seized a can of bear spray, which is a prohibited weapon under the Criminal Code, and found a key to a Hyundai vehicle previously stolen and recovered the day before.
Damage to the motel and Explorer is estimated at $75,000 to $100,000.
Johnston, who appeared in court Thursday by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, is scheduled to return to court later this month.
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