Man facing numerous charges to avoid trial

A Lethbridge man charged with numerous offences following a police chase in January has decided not to go to trial.

The accused, 28-year-old Winston Frederick Hegi, was in Lethbridge provincial court Tuesday where Lethbridge lawyer Miranda Hlady said her client is prepared to resolve his charges without a court fight.

Crown prosecutor Brad Stephenson pointed out he was ready to deal with the case Tuesday, but there were still unresolved issues relating to some property. He added the charges would likely be resolved at Hegi’s next court hearing more than a month away.

Hegi, who appeared in court by closed-circuit TV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, is charged with possession of stolen property under and over $5,000, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, dangerous driving, drug possession, possession of break-in tools, failing to stop for police, impaired driving, resisting arrest, and driving while disqualified.

Police 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 break-in.

When police attempted to stop the vehicle, it sped away and rammed two police vehicles. The truck fled 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 didn’t stop the truck, and it continued fleeing from police onto secondary Highway 519.

About 11 kilometres south of Highway 3, the vehicle stopped briefly and a passenger surrendered to police. The truck, however, continued south for about 500 more metres before it became stuck in a ditch and the driver was arrested. Hegi returns to court Oct. 2.