Raini Scott Henderson gets escorted away from Prince Albert Court of Queen's Bench. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Wild chase

Montreal Lake man receives prison time for Tasering cop

Sep 24, 2019 | 1:58 PM

A man who led RCMP on a high speed chase, while high on crystal meth, has received a 36-month prison sentence.

Raini Scott Henderson, 30, was sentenced Tuesday morning at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s bench, after pleading guilty to five charges on Monday at a separate hearing. Those charges included resisting arrest, attempting to take a weapon from a police officer, operating a motor vehicle in a manner that is dangerous to the public, driving while impaired, and operating a motor vehicle while disqualified.

The case dates back to August 1, 2018. According to the statement of facts read by Judge G.A. Meschishnick at the sentencing hearing, the incident began after police found Henderson asleep in a parked vehicle in Montreal Lake.

After being removed from the vehicle by an officer, and placed in handcuffs, Henderson pulled away, ran to the other side of the car, jumped back in and tried to start it. One of the officers followed him and attempted to use her Taser on him.

The initial two attempts failed and on the third attempt, Henderson grabbed the device and used it on the officer who fell to the ground. Henderseon then sped off on Highway 969 toward La Ronge.

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Officers from Prince Albert as well as La Ronge soon became involved and both made several spike belt attempts. At one point when the suspect vehicle slowed down, one officer grabbed onto the vehicle and was dragged several feet. He sustained minor injuries.

After pulling the vehicle over into the ditch, Henderson took off on foot before the Police Service Dog apprehended him. Police found both meth and drug paraphernalia inside the car.

“Society will not tolerate risks to public that come from impaired driving” _{– Judge G.A. Meschishnick .}

The Crown was seeking a four-year jail sentence, while the defence asked for a sentence of two years. Judge G.A. Meschishnick considered arguments by both lawyers, as well as the findings of a Gladue report, before deciding on the 36-month sentence.

“There’s little doubt Gladue factors have influenced Mr. Henderson’s behaviour,” he said.

Among the factors cited in the Gladue report were the facts that Henderson was taken from his biological mother at a young age, and he had no father figure in his life. The report also stated Henderson spent some time on the streets, and stole to survive.

Also factored into Meschishnick’s final decision was the apology Henderson offered in court Monday to the injured officer. In her victim impact statement, the officer described how she continues to have nightmares, and feels anxious anytime she approaches a vehicle. Meschishnick said the sentence needs to send a message to respect law enforcement, but also the dangers of driving while impaired.

“Society will not tolerate risks to public that come from impaired driving,” he said.

Meschishnick then turned to Henderson and offered some encouraging words.

“You strike me as an intelligent person,” the judge said to Henderson. “I hope you use this opportunity to change.”

Henderson was granted 629 days for time spent in remand, so has roughly 18 months left to serve. Upon his release he will have a number of conditions including attending addictions treatment, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, and a five-year driving prohibition.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell