(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Driver who engaged police pursuit handed five-and-a-half year prison sentence

May 7, 2020 | 2:39 PM

A man who led police on a high speed chase through the city in a stolen car was handed a five-and-a-half year prison sentence with a three-year driving ban after his release.

Tyler Bear was formally sentenced Thursday at Prince Albert Provincial Court for the crimes he committed last fall.

The 23-year-old was one of two people arrested on Sept. 12, 2019. His trial was held March 17. Judge Steven Schiefner subsequently released his decision on April 29, convicting Bear on 16 charges including dangerous driving, possession of stolen property exceeding $5,000, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose (bear spray), and possessing a firearm when he was prohibited from doing so. A sawed off .303 rifle was found at the scene by police, and a loaded magazine for the gun was found in a compartment in the driver’s door.

A photo of the weapons seized by police on Sept. 12. (submitted photo/Prince Albert Police Service)

Inside the black Chevrolet Cruze, stolen a few days prior, police also found small quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as multiple other weapons including a rifle, an axe, bear spray, and a stab proof vest. At the conclusion of the trial, the Crown indicated it was no longer seeking convictions on the charges related to the brass knuckles or the alleged possession of controlled substances.

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Prior to being arrested, Bear led police on a chase throughout the city, hitting speeds of 130 km/h — nearly tripling local speed zones. The judgment said Bear swerved in and out of oncoming traffic, and failed to obey a number of stops signs. The pursuit, which lasted roughly six minutes, ended when the suspect vehicle struck a meridian at 15th St. E and Tenth Ave. E. The force of the impact was sufficient enough to disable the car, which then came to rest at a nearby parking lot.

Bear’s original trial was scheduled to take place on Jan. 16, but the Crown was under the impression Bear intended to plead guilty. Proceedings were cancelled though after Bear unexpectedly informed his lawyer he was not prepared to resolve matters and the March trial date was set.

While Bear admitted to driving dangerously, he said he was not aware the vehicle was stolen.

“I have found that Mr. Bear was in fact aware that the vehicle he was operating on Sept. 12, 2019 was stolen,'” Schiefner said in his written decision. “While much of the Crown’s case was circumstantial. Mr. Bear’s guilt in relation to these matters was the only rational inference that could be drawn from the totality of the evidence.”

While Bear’s prison sentence is five-and-a-half years, he was given credit for 359 days spent in pre-sentence custody. He was also told he will have a lifetime firearms prohibition.

The co-accused, Bridget Naytowhow, is scheduled to have her matters spoken to on June 11.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell