Two Stettler men are facing steep fines and have lost their drivers’ licences after joyriding on the RCMP detachment lawn and adjacent road in late January earlier this year.
The two men, Billy McKee and Brady Serbier, appeared separately before Justice J.B. Mitchell on April 24 at the Alberta Provincial Court in Stettler.
The court heard that on January 31, members of the RCMP heard the loud revving of snowmobiles outside the detachment and, after looking outside, saw the two accused racing on the adjacent street.
When police tried to stop the two snowmobilers, both fled but one, McKee, was arrested nearby when his snowmobile broke down. Serbier, who was identified by McKee, turned himself in to police the next day.
For Serbier, the incident was his first brush with the law, a “bit of youthful foolishness,” according to Crown Prosecutor Jason Snider.
Unlike his friend, McKee did have a criminal record for assault, and at the time of his arrest outside the detachment was already on probation.
In Serbier’s case, the Crown agreed to drop the original charge of failure to stop for a peace officer, which would leave Serbier with a criminal record, in favour of stunt driving, a traffic safety act violation.
“I appreciate your guilty plea,” Judge Mitchell told Serbier, “but I don’t appreciate...your lack of awareness. I will penalize you for stunting and for basic stupidity.”
Mitchell wasn’t much kinder to McKee, calling the events “just plain stupid”.
McKee was also charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle, in addition to his stunting charges.
The court heard that the police, on detaining McKee, noted a strong odour of alcohol, saw flushed skin and heard slurred speech, three signs of impaired driving. However, a blood-alcohol test was not performed as there was no technician available to perform the test.
“The real consequence is you have a criminal record,” Mitchell told McKee with a sigh.
McKee was banned nation-wide from operating a motor vehicle for a year unless he was approved for the ignition interlock program, Mitchell decreed.
Also in Alberta Provincial Court on April 24:
Just two weeks after being released from the Red Deer detention centre, Derek Draganiuk was back in court for failing to comply with his release conditions.
Draganiuk, arrested on assault charges, had been released on bail with strict conditions to remain away from the second party and her place of residence. The matter was put forward until May 8.
Douglas Kozak was fined $500 for speeding away from police after he was pulled over for a loud muffler.
Anthony Glasier pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving and was fined $1,150 for his actions, and in doing so avoided having the matter go to trial.