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Trial starts for man who allegedly dragged officer while fleeing

Jun 2, 2015 | 6:54 AM

The trial for a man charged with fleeing police in a truck, and injuring two officers while doing so, is underway.

In fall of 2013, two police officers were injured after a traffic stop went awry in Prince Albert.

A home on the 500 block of 14th Street North West was the subject of a search warrant on Sept. 6, 2013, and a pursuit following that led to the arrest of Landon Aydt.

Aydt, 28, allegedly dragged a peace officer momentarily with a red Dodge Ram truck and hit another officer with the trailer it was towing.

At the time, police with the Prince Albert team of the Saskatchewan Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU), Prince Albert Integrated Street Enforcement Team and Prince Albert Police Service, believed Aydt had thrown cash and a bag of cocaine from the truck.

Aydt was not in custody at Prince Albert’s Court of Queen’s Bench on Monday, where he entered not guilty pleas to the eight charges resulting from that incident. He’s facing trial by judge alone.

Those charges include causing bodily harm to peace officer Cst. Darren Androsoff, flight from police, criminal negligence causing bodily harm to Cst. Brock Acorn and Androsoff, possession of 77.3 grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of proceeds obtained by crime.

The trial started with Aydt’s plea. Before moving into the trial proper, Aydt’s defence informed the court there is an issue that will present itself as the evidence is laid out, relating to a Charter argument alleging an unlawful arrest.

Trial evidence was then laid out, with Justice B.J. Sherman saying he would determine which evidence is admissible after defence and the Crown had laid it out.

Aydt’s trial is scheduled for the entire week.

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