By Charlene Tebbutt

Judge finds P.A. Police officer guilty of impaired driving

Oct 26, 2018 | 4:06 PM

An officer with the Prince Albert Police Service was found guilty of impaired driving stemming from an incident in the city last year.

Brett Lee Henry, a 14-year member of the police force, was convicted Friday at Prince Albert Provincial Court on a single count of impaired driving. Henry, 36, pleaded not guilty to the charge and testified on his own behalf at his trial, saying that while he had been drinking, he was still OK to drive. The case stems from an incident in Prince Albert the night of March 2 and into the morning of March 3, 2017.

Henry admitted during the trial that on the evening of the event he consumed five schooners of beer at one bar before drinking seven doubles at another and then driving to a third. He testified he was also drinking lots of water and ate a cheeseburger and chicken wings during the evening, then swallowed four anxiety pills while driving to a third bar.

In finding Henry guilty, Provincial Court Judge Hugh Harradence said Henry’s testimony was inconsistent and unreliable. Harradence said he believed witness testimony from several people, including bartenders and servers, who saw Henry on the night in question and told the court he seemed unsteady on his feet and slurred his speech. All said Henry should not have been driving. 

Henry is scheduled to be sentenced on the charge Nov. 21. Following the court decision Friday, the Prince Albert Police Service issued a news release saying Henry has been suspended with pay pending an administrative review.

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Henry declined to provide a comment to paNOW following the decision, except to say “it is what it is.” His defence lawyer, Michael Owens appeared by phone on the matter Friday and did not return a request for comment.

Sentencing on the matter was adjourned at Owens’ request. Owens asked the court for a pre-sentence report in the case, which looks at an offender’s personal circumstances and any factors that might affect sentencing.

But, with no prior criminal record and his work as a police officer, Harradence told Owens he was disappointed that he would try to use court resources on a pre-sentence order. Harradence granted the adjournment to allow Henry time to get his affairs in order.

The minimum penalty for a conviction of impaired driving under Canada’s Criminal Code is a fine of $1,000 and a one-year driving ban.

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt