Man who ran from police pleads guilty

By Shurtz, Delon on April 2, 2020.

Delon Shurtz

lethbridge herald

A dog may be man’s best friend, but Carter Dylan Rains probably isn’t feeling particularly close to the one that bit him a few weeks ago.

Rains, 28, was fleeing from police last February when he was chased, and caught, by a police dog.

Officers were patrolling a Lethbridge neighbourhood Feb. 7 when they noticed a vehicle they knew belonged to Rains parked on the street. They also knew Rains was wanted on outstanding warrants, and when they returned to the vehicle about 12:30 the next morning, they noted the hood and trunk were open and items strewn on the ground.

Officers saw Rains approach the vehicle and, because he has run from police before, he was told he was under arrest and warned not to run.

“Nevertheless, he fled,” Crown prosecutor Bruce Ainscough said Wednesday at Lethbridge provincial court, where Rains pleaded guilty to a charge of fleeing from police.

Rains didn’t get far, however, and a police dog quickly caught up to him and bit him on the buttocks, Ainscough explained.

Rains continued to run, with the dog firmly attached to him, but police arrived shortly afterward and tackled the suspect to the ground.

Lethbridge lawyer Miranda Hlady told court her client has had an “unfortunate childhood,” and only a few years ago his brother, who was his primary caregiver, died of a drug overdose.

Rains, Hlady pointed out, was set to stand trial later this month but chose to plead guilty to the charge, instead. He also pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with a previous release condition, which stipulated he obey a curfew.

Rains, who appeared in court by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, was sentenced to 72 days in jail, but given full credit for time already served.

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