Man facing numerous charges remains in custody

A Lethbridge man charged with numerous offences following a police chase in January has lost his bid for freedom.

Winston Frederick Hegi, 27, was remanded in custody following a lengthy bail hearing Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court.

Although evidence presented during the bail hearing cannot be published under a publication ban, police previously reported that on Jan. 25 they noticed a stolen Ford F-350 truck at the Westside Trailer Court in the 2700 block of Westside Drive, which they suspect had been involved in a Coaldale breakin.

When police attempted to stop the vehicle, it sped away and rammed two police vehicles. The truck continued north on Westside Drive and west onto Highway 3 toward Coalhurst.

Police deployed stop sticks along Highway 3 which flattened the truck’s tires, but it continued to flee from police onto secondary Highway 519.

About 11 kilometres south of Highway 3, the vehicle stopped briefly and a passenger surrendered to police. However, the truck continued south for about 500 metres before it became stuck in a ditch, and the driver was arrested.

Hegi was charged with two counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000, assaulting a police officer with a weapon, possession of break-in instruments, dangerous driving, drug possession, impaired driving, flight from police, break and enter and commit theft under $5,000, and operation of a motor vehicle while disqualified.

The accused returns to court next Friday.