Man who fled in police car gets two years

A Calgary man who stole an Edmonton Police Service vehicle, then led officers on a high- speed chase, crashed into a tree and fought a police dog was given a twoyear prison sentence Thursday.

Ian Trevor Ball, 27, was high on methamphetamines at the time, court heard as Ball pleaded guilty to six charges.

“These allegations are ridiculous,” Crown prosecutor K. C. Komosky told court. “This was a criminal pursuit in a stolen police car.”

On the morning of Oct. 30, 2014, police arrived at the parking lot of Century Motors, near 113th Street and 132nd Avenue, after a person reported a man with a gun. Ball, who did not have a gun, ducked between two vehicles when a police canine unit arrived.

The officer ordered Ball to show himself.

“The accused then stood up from behind a parked car and was holding a piece of two- by- four lumber in each hand,” Komosky told court. Ball didn’t appear to recognize the officer as a policeman, he added.

Ball dropped his lumber and bolted toward the unmarked police car, slamming the door moments before police dog Xieko reached him. When the officer opened the door, Ball kicked him in the chest and sped out of the parking lot in the unmarked Chevy Tahoe.

Ball led several police cruisers on a pursuit along 132nd Avenue, speeding at 90 km/ h in a 50- km/ h zone.

Ball sped through three red lights and drove in and out of oncoming traffic during the pursuit. After leading officers into a residential area, Ball lost control of the vehicle, skidded across oncoming traffic lanes, bounced off one spruce tree and slammed into a second.

Police service dog Maverick bit Ball on the shoulder as he fled the crashed police vehicle. Ball struggled with the German shepherd, slamming the dog into the side of the police vehicle. It took six officers to bring Ball under control and arrest him. At the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Ball admitted he was high on methamphetamines.

Ball pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon, assault of a peace officer, theft of a vehicle, failure to stop for police, dangerous driving and resisting arrest. After his twoyear sentence is complete, Ball will be banned from driving for three years.

He must also pay $ 39,845 in restitution to the City of Edmonton for damages to the $ 60,000 vehicle.