An Onion Lake man was sentenced to two years less a day in prison for fleeing from police.
Damian Dillon, 26, was sentenced in Lloydminster Provincial Court on May 13 on charges of flight from police, dangerous driving and driving while prohibited.
North Battleford Crown prosecutor Oryn Holm told the court that Dillon fled from police and it just so happened that the RCMP helicopter was in Lloydminster at the time.
Holm said that on April 23 at about 7:30 p.m. an officer attempted a traffic stop but the driver of the vehicle didn’t stop, ran a red light and headed down Highway 16.
The Alberta RCMP K Division helicopter tracked the vehicle to north of Maidstone and officers put spike belts on the highway. Dillon saw the heavy police presence and stopped.
Holm said Dillon has 16 prior offences including another flight from police conviction where he received an 11-month jail sentence.
Dillon was also on probation and release conditions at the time of the pursuit.
North Battleford Legal Aid lawyer Cara Hill told the court that Dillon “panicked when he saw the police,” and was motivated by a desire to see his children again.
Dillon was given 32 days credit off his sentence for serving 21 days in remand. After he is released from prison he will be on probation for nine months.
Dillon was one of 40 arrested during the Lloydminster RCMP cross border, intelligence led operation that targeted street level organized crime and gangs.
The operation involved RCMP K Division Air Services, Lloydminster RCMP general duty members, Lloydminster RCMP General Investigations Section, Lloydminster RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, Police Dog Services, Eastern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (EADCRU), and Saskatchewan F Division RCMP Crime Reduction Team.
