The third Red Deer suspect who was arrested following a dangerous police pursuit through the Sundre RCMP detachment’s jurisdiction received two years probation after pleading guilty to several charges.
Dakota Lee Cornelssen had faced eight charges stemming from the October 2017 incident that resulted in police officers defensively discharging their firearms.
Although a trial date for Cornelssen had previously been set in March in Red Deer provincial court, the matter recently resolved after he pled guilty to the following three charges: housebreaking and committing theft; failure to stop a vehicle and evading police; as well as dangerous driving. Cornelssen’s sentence was suspended and he was given two years probation for the offences, according to an inquiry submitted to a provincial media court service
Other charges against Cornelssen, including two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, robbery, and two counts of resisting or wilfully obstructing a peace officer, were withdrawn.
Shae-Lee Phillips had also initially faced a charge of possession of stolen property more than $5,000 as well as uttering threats. However, following several court appearances, those two charges were stayed last March.
Nicholas James Wales had faced eight criminal charges, including the following: two counts of possession of property over $5,000; uttering threats; break and enter into a residence and committing theft; resisting arrest; failing to stop for police; robbery; and assault with a weapon.
After numerous court appearances, Wales eventually entered guilty pleas on Feb. 6, 2018 in Red Deer for the following offences: possession of stolen property; two counts of break and enter; and failure to stop for police. After 174 days of pre-trial custody, he was to serve the remainder of a sentence of three years and six days as of that court date.
On the morning of Oct. 13, 2017, Sundre RCMP received several complaints about a pickup truck being driven in an erratic and at times threatening manner. The vehicle, which was subsequently discovered to have been stolen, was spotted later that day in the Rocky Mountain House district, but attempts to stop the driver were not successful.
The pursuit ended in the Sylvan Lake RCMP detachment’s area, where a spike belt was deployed, prompting an officer to fire his weapon when the driver turned the stolen vehicle around towards police. The truck later ended up immobilized in a ditch after ramming and disabling an occupied police cruiser.
Although Phillips was at that point apprehended, police said Cornelssen and Wales fled on foot to a nearby property and gained access to another truck, leading police to discharge their firearms. After travelling a short distance, police said the truck lost control and came to rest in a ditch.
Wales and Phillips were charged while Cornelssen spent several months recovering in hospital from wounds sustained during the confrontation before officially being charged.
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team launched an investigation into the incident. It had not issued any updates by the time this story was posted.
