Lethbridge man to stand trial for flight from police

By Delon Shurtz on August 13, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man facing numerous criminal offences, including flight from police and dangerous driving, has decided to stand trial.
The matter for Darcy Red Crow was in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday, where his lawyer elected on his behalf to be tried by a provincial court judge. Defence had also hoped to schedule a trial date during Thursday’s hearing, but the case was adjourned until Aug. 18 to allow time to determine a date that will be suitable for both the Crown and defence, and to determine whether the trial will take more than one day.
Red Crow is charged with two counts each of dangerous driving, flight from a peace officer, drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of identity information, and single counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, driving while prohibited, and obstructing a peace officer. He is also charged under the Traffic Safety Act with one count of driving without insurance.
Just before 4 p.m. on May 31, Lethbridge police noticed a vehicle, which had earlier been reported stolen from Calgary. Officers with the priority crimes unit and crime suppression team followed the car as it drove to the Blood Reserve, where Blood Tribe police attempted to stop the vehicle before it sped away.
Police came across the vehicle shortly afterward as it headed north toward Claresholm. An officer in a marked RCMP vehicle attempted to stop the vehicle, but it fled toward Nobleford and eventually Picture Butte. Just after 6 p.m. the driver stopped and Lethbridge police arrested him.
Red Crow, who remains in custody, had been ordered in June to undergo a psychological assessment to determine his fitness to stand trial. Court was told at the time there isn’t an issue with Red Crow’s mental capacity at the time of the alleged offence, but events following his arrest prompted the request for a fitness assessment.

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