Standoff suspect referred to Mental Health Diversion
ALethbridge man charged in relation to a police standoff in April will not have to undergo a court-ordered psychiatric assessment. The Crown had previously suggested that Daniel Crowder remain in custody and have the 30-day forensic assessment to determine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe he was, at the time of the alleged offence, suffering from a mental disorder so as to be exempt from criminal responsibility.
However, Thursday during a hearing in Lethbridge provincial court the Crown recommended a different plan, and Crowder was released from custody and referred to the Mental Health Diversion program.
The program is a pretrial procedure that allows an accused person to receive treatment and counselling to reduce the likelihood of re-offending. The accused does not have to admit guilt to an offence, and the Crown may stay or withdraw the charge if the accused is suffering from a mental illness which may be the underlying cause of the alleged criminal conduct.
Crowder is charged with uttering death threats, possession of body armour, breaching probation, breaching release conditions and failing to comply with court orders.
At about 9:30 a.m. May 24 police responded to a request to check on the well-being of a man at an apartment complex in the 2500 block of Walsh Drive West as a result of comments posted on social media sites.
Police attended the man’s home and attempted to make contact with him but he refused to speak to the officers, the Lethbridge Police Service said in a news release following the incident. Officers then evacuated a portion of the building as a safety precaution and barricaded roads in the area.
The man continued to post comments online, and members of the Lethbridge Police Critical Incident Response Team, including the Tactical Team, Explosive Disposal Unit and Crisis Negotiators, were deployed.
Officials said police made numerous attempts to communicate with the man throughout the afternoon, and just before 4 p.m. he began speaking with negotiators and exited his home.
He was safely taken into custody at that time and taken to hospital, but discharged a short time later. No one was injured.
Police didn’t find any weapons during a search of the apartment unit, but they found body armour, which is prohibited by provincial legislation.
Crowder was released from custody Thursday on $500 no-cash bail and ordered to keep the peace and behave himself. He must live with his parents, obey a daily curfew, not possess any firearms or other weapons and abstain from alcohol or other intoxicating substances. He must also meet with his own psychiatrist upon his release from custody.
His next court hearing is scheduled for July 13 to confirm his enrolment in the diversion program.
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