On Thursday, December 8th, 2016, at approximately 5:00 a.m., police observed a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed southbound on Elphinstone Street. Police attempted to catch up to the vehicle, but lost sight after last observing the vehicle westbound on 4th Avenue.
Police later observed the same vehicle in a parking spot on the 1000 block of Argyle Street. Police approached as the driver attempted to get the vehicle in motion. Police challenged the driver, but commands were not obeyed and the driver continued his attempts to get the vehicle in motion until succeeding, striking a fence. The vehicle turned southbound into an alley, striking a garbage can, and continuing southbound on Argyle Street, and turning westbound on 5th Avenue. The vehicle turned southbound on to Queen Street, where it hit a parked vehicle, and continued on until turning eastbound on to 6th Avenue. Police approached the suspect vehicle, now at rest, and observed the driver attempting to restart the vehicle as it was no longer running. Police challenged the driver, who was now obeying commands, and the driver was arrested. Investigation determined the vehicle to be stolen.
Twenty-six year-old Samuel Rodney COPEMAN (1990/10/04), of Regina, is charged with:
- Theft of motor vehicle [CC 333.1(1)]
- Fail to stop at scene of accident [CC 252(1)]
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 [CC 355(A)]
- 2 X Failure to comply [CC 145(3)]
- Failure to comply with probation order [CC 733.1(1)]
The accused appeared in Provincial Court on these charges on Thursday, December 8, 2016, at 2:00 p.m.