Dangerous driving sentence adjourned to Nov. 30

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on October 4, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A 31-year-old man who nearly struck a police officer with his vehicle more than a year ago, will be sentenced when he returns to court in a couple of months.

Eric Steven Brown was expected to be sentenced earlier, following guilty pleas in April in Lethbridge provincial court to charges of driving while prohibited, dangerous driving and obstructing a peace officer. Sentencing was initially adjourned for two months to allow time for the preparation of various reports and to hear sentencing submissions from his lawyer and the Crown prosecutor.

Following subsequent adjournments, the matter was back in court last week and adjourned one more time to Nov. 30 for sentencing.

The three charges stem from an incident just after 2 a.m. on Sept. 16 of last year after Lethbridge police noticed a Dodge Caravan strike the curb as it turned onto South Parkside Drive from Mayor Magrath Drive. Police conducted a traffic stop and realized Brown, who was the driver, was prohibited from driving.

While talking to Brown and a passenger, another officer noticed alcohol behind the vehicle’s centre console and asked Brown to step out of the vehicle. He refused and also refused to turn off the vehicle. The officer asked the passenger to turn off the vehicle, which she did, but after removing the keys from the ignition, Brown grabbed them from her and started the engine.

Brown continued to ignore the officers’ demands to turn off the vehicle, and he put it into gear and sped off. The road was clear of traffic, but instead of driving straight ahead, Brown turned hard to the right, forcing one of the officers to jump out of the way to avoid being struck.

Police, who estimated Brown reached speeds in excess of 100 km/h, did not attempt to pursue him.

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