Suspect in shooting still waiting for a psychiatric assessment
By Lethbridge Herald on July 19, 2023.
Delon Shurtz
Lethbridge Herald
A 37-year-old man who was referred last month for a 30-day, inpatient psychiatric assessment, is still waiting to have the assessment conducted.
During a hearing Monday in Lethbridge court of justice, court was told doctors at the Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatric Centre in Calgary were unable to conduct the assessment for Danial Mark Ferguson before Monday’s hearing and were requesting an extension of the assessment order until next month.
Ferguson, however, balked at the request, and instead said he wanted to first have a bail hearing, and if he was released, he would then have an assessment as an outpatient.
Justice Peter Ayotte expressed concern with that plan, however, and told Ferguson if he waited to have a bail hearing, and was denied release, the court would have to order a new assessment, and he would likely be placed at the bottom of the assessment list and have to wait longer.
He was also told that an outpatient assessment would be conducted in Lethbridge and also take longer.
As of July 11 Ferguson was second on a list of 13 patients waiting for assessments.
The accused also faces unrelated charges from earlier incidents for which he was previously granted bail, and the Crown gave notice it plans to apply to revoke bail on those charges.
After a considerable amount of debate, Ferugson agreed to forgo a bail hearing, and an extension of his assessment was granted until Aug. 18.
Ferguson faces two charges each of pointing a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent, and mischief causing damage under $5,000, as well as single charges of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, dangerous driving, and failure to comply with release conditions.
Shortly before 5 p.m. May 26 RCMP responded to a report of a shooting at a home in Coaldale. When police arrived the alleged shooter had already left, and was reportedly driving toward Lethbridge on Highway 3.
Police said he also shot at another motorist.
The suspect was stopped at the intersection of Highway 3 and 43 Street in Lethbridge, and arrested by RCMP and Lethbridge police.
“A pistol was located in the vehicle and was determined to be a Winchester BB gun replica of a 1911 pistol,” officials said in a news release.
During a court hearing last month Ferguson insisted he was crazy and should have a forensic assessment.
“I do drywall by myself and talk crazy to the walls,” Ferguson told a judge. “Everyone thinks I’m crazy.”
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