(file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Justice

Man who stole cab, fired shots at police in Delmas could face 14 years in jail

Apr 11, 2019 | 12:05 PM

A man who stole a cab and fired shots at police was at Queen’s Bench court in Battleford for a sentencing hearing Wednesday.

Tristan Pinder, 20, previously pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm with intent to prevent his arrest in the Delmas area; flight from a peace officer, near Delmas; and theft under $5,000 for stolen gas in Lashburn, on April 14, 2018. He also pleaded to a separate robbery charge from April 13, 2018 in which a taxi was stolen.

Pinder did not enter pleas to other charges including attempted murder.

Crown prosecutors Charlotte Morden and Alexandra Findlay recommended a 14-year global sentence minus credit for time served. Pinder has been in custody close to a year since his arrest.

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Crown requested six to eight years on the robbery conviction, nine years on the discharge firearm to prevent arrest conviction, two years for flight from a peace officer, and 30 days for the gas theft.

As part of their submissions, prosecutors described the violent circumstances which led to the taxi cab theft last year. Court heard Pinder and a female accomplice stole the cab after Pinder cut the driver’s throat and stabbed his torso while the vehicle was still in motion. Pinder then removed the driver and stole the van, a portion of which was recorded by a dash cam video later played in court.

Morden said in the video it appeared the female mouthed the words “I love you” to Pinder prior to the attack on the driver.

The cab driver’s submitted victim impact statement indicated he sustained significant injuries, and still experiences pain and nightmares from the incident.

The Crown said on the following day police responded to a gas theft file and located the stolen cab on Highway 16 in the Lashburn area.

However when members attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle, the driver fled. Crown said shots were fired from the van toward officers. One bullet hit the police cruiser’s windshield, Crown said.

Police exchanged fire in response.

One officer said it appeared Pinder was the one driving the vehicle while the female accused was holding the firearm out the back window.

At one point, Pinder stepped out of the vehicle and fired shots at police with a rifle.

The officer was “scared for his life,” Morden said.

Eventually Maidstone RCMP arrested both Pinder and the woman with support from the North Battleford RCMP and the police dog service.

Pinder will return to Queen’s Bench Court in Battleford on May 16 for sentencing.

—

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW