Man facing 37 charges going to trial

A22-year-old Calgary man accused of breaking into car dealerships in Lethbridge late last year has decided to go to trial on 37 charges. Eric Christopher Smith, who appeared in court Friday by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, pleaded not guilty to the charges and elected to be tried by provincial court judge.

The matter was adjourned for two weeks to schedule a pre-trial conference, and when Smith returns to court Feb. 23 a date will likely be set for a two-day trial.

Smith, who was denied bail Jan. 29, is charged with single counts of dangerous driving, possession of stolen property over $5,000, mischief over $5,000 and resisting a peace officer. He also faces multiple counts of shopbreaking and commit theft, motor vehicle theft, flight from a peace officer, driving without insurance, assaulting a peace officer, disqualified driving, mischief under $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, theft under $5,000 and drug possession.

Police reported in December that at about 9:53 p.m. Nov. 30, 2017, police responded to a break-in at Dunlop Ford in the 1500 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South after a man driving a stolen truck plowed into one of the business's overhead doors, then took a set of keys and stole an F350 truck.

While police investigated the theft, the suspect drove the stolen truck to Bridge City Chrysler in the 3200 block of 1 Avenue South and crashed into another overhead door. He again took keys and drove a Fiat Spider down the street where, police believe, he intended to return later to pick up the vehicle.

As he attempted to move other vehicles from the lot, a security officer arrived and the suspect fled, this time in a Dodge Ram 1500.

Just before 12:30 a.m. the following day a police officer saw the suspect in the stolen truck near the dealership and two other officers blocked the vehicle's path. The man rammed both police vehicles, however, and fled east on Highway 3 where police pursued him as he left the city limits.

RCMP deployed a spike belt, disabling the truck, but the driver fled on foot. He was later found in a shed and caught by a police dog.