By Taylor MacPherson

Youth sentenced for police parking lot incident

Sep 21, 2017 | 8:00 AM

A teenager from Grandmother’s Bay who confronted Prince Albert police in the parking lot of their own police station was sentenced to six months in open custody yesterday.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was first arrested in July after a robbery in Grandmother’s Bay. Crown prosecutor Cameron Scott said the teenager threatened a 12-year-old with a realistic-looking BB gun, causing the young victim to flee his home. The teenager then smashed cups and glasses in the kitchen, Scott said, before making off with a 42” television which was “trashed” when police recovered it.

The young man was released from custody a week later, but came into conflict with the law again on Aug. 21 when two Prince Albert police officers heard an altercation in the parking lot of the city police station on 15th St. W. just after 10 p.m. and went outside to investigate.

Scott said one man was seen running away from the scene and threw a BB pistol over a fence before he was caught by police and taken down. As the officers were handcuffing the first suspect, the 17-year-old approached the officers aggressively, Scott said, holding a shiny object above his head and shouting “Terror Squad.”

One officer, who believed the teen to be brandishing a knife, drew his service weapon and ordered the young man onto the ground. The young man was not compliant, Scott said, but as he got closer the officers realized he was holding a cell phone and not a knife. The officer holstered his pistol and drew his CEW (Taser). The teen surrendered, the prosecutor said, and found himself in police custody once again.

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“Thankfully the officer was very restrained,” Scott said.

Defence lawyer Terra Lennox-Zepp said the young man has no memory of the incident at the Prince Albert police station because he was “heavily intoxicated,” but wished to take responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

Lennox-Zepp outlined the tragic circumstances of the teen’s early life, which included physical abuse, mental health issues and drug addiction. While the Crown pushed for a nine-month custodial sentence, Lennox-Zepp argued that a differed custody order was more appropriate for the troubled young man.

The teen was sentenced to six months in open custody, meaning his sentence will be served at a supervised, community-based youth facility, followed by three months of community supervision. He will be prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition for two years following his release.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews