Accused in SCS syringe assault sentenced to jail time
By Delon Shurtz on September 10, 2021.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com
A 31-year-old man who shot a security guard in the face with a loaded syringe more than a year and a half ago has finally been sentenced.
Wade Allan Cross Child was sentenced Wednesday in Lethbridge provincial court to six months in jail on one count of assault with a weapon, stemming from an incident March 3, 2020 at the former drug supervised consumption site.
Cross Child was in the lobby of the SCS and attempting to inject himself with a needle when a security officer told him drug use was not permitted in the lobby and instructed him to wait until he could enter a consumption room.
“At that point the accused then turned around and shot the loaded syringe that he was holding into the face of the security officer,” Crown Prosecutor Sheena Campbell explained. “The syringe had blood and an unknown drug in it.”
The contents of the syringe struck the officer in the eyes and mouth and he was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Lethbridge lawyer Ingrid Hess pointed out the officer was tested repeatedly over time for a number of possible illnesses that could result from contact with the contents of the syringe, but he has not tested positive.
“He has never shown to have been infected,” Hess said.
Campbell added the victim was tested every six months, specifically for hepatitis C and HIV, because the accused has both diseases.
Hess said her client grew up around domestic violence and was exposed to drug addiction abuse, and during his early adult life he developed his own issues with substance abuse and resulting chronic health conditions. Cross Child completed a treatment program and is doing better, Hess added, but he continues to use drugs.
Hess said Cross Child was using “very serious drugs” at the time of the assault against the security officer, and frequently received the “services” provided by the SCS.
“He was really not doing well mentally and emotionally.”
Cross Child also pleaded guilty to one count of breaching previous release conditions, which prohibited him from possessing intoxicating substances. While patrolling Galt Gardens in August of this year a police officer caught Cross Child with a small amount of carfentanil.
The Crown argued for an additional sentence of 30 days, but Judge Jerry LeGrandeur agreed with a defence recommendation for a “monetary penalty” and fined Cross Child $500, in lieu of which he will serve the default time of four days in jail.
Cross Child was also credited for the equivalent of 110 days he spent in pre-trial custody, leaving him with 70 days to serve on his sentence.
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More needs to be done to protect guards against issues such as this. I am tired of hearing about past life experiences causing the individual to act against others and causing injury. It is time they take responsibility for their actions and sentences are given that deter others from similar attacks!
Hepatitis C or HIV can surface years later, in fact Hep C surfaced decades later in people from contact in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Security guards are an important part of the necessary tools employed due protect people and property from the rippling effects of addiction and they get paid close to minimum wage, taking abuse from many sides, often being assaulted with only minimal penalties given to their attackers,
There are so many areas that need changes in the judicial and penal systems, because right now, there are very few deterrents . . . the criminals know they will get off with slaps on the wrist!
There are many tools that could be used by security to help protect them and the public, but their hands are often bound by the client.