Man gets 75 days for fleeing police

By Delon Shurtz on June 19, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgherald.com

A 35-year-old man who fled from police while his friend was being investigated for drunk driving, has been sentenced to 75 days in jail.
Lyle Williams was the passenger in a white BMW that passed an unmarked police car going in the opposite direction March 22. The officer could tell the BMW was speeding, and he watched it weave in and out of traffic before he was able to pull it over. While the officer investigated the driver for impaired driving, he told Williams to “hang tight” and said he would get back to him.
Moments later he heard the BMW’s engine rev, and noticed Williams in the driver’s seat just before the car took off. The officer didn’t pursue the vehicle, and continued to deal with the driver, who identified Williams.
A couple of hours later police received a 911 call from a northside residence, where they found Williams had overdosed on fentanil. He was given Narcan, a medication used to counter the effects of opioids, and rushed to the hospital.
Williams was eventually arrested and charged with several offences, and Friday in Lethbridge provincial court he pleaded guilty to a single count of obstructing a peace officer, and two counts of failing to comply with release conditions. Williams was on release conditions at the time to abstain from alcohol and drugs, and to not get behind the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.
Although he was sentenced to 75 days in jail, Williams was given credit for 75 days spent in pre-trial custody, which concludes his sentence. Several other charges in relation to the incident, including flight from police and dangerous driving, were withdrawn.

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