Man to seek bail again

A 25-year-old man who was denied bail in May is planning to make a second attempt at getting out of custody while his case makes its way through court.

Anthony Douglas Johnston was remanded in custody after his bail hearing in Lethbridge provincial court May 7, even though he was prepared to post $500 of his own money for bail, and a friend was willing to post $1,000 surety. The accused has been sitting in remand at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre since his arrest March 20.

During a court hearing this week, Calgary lawyer Robin McIntyre said she is seeking to have a bail review for her client in Court of Queen’s Bench. Meanwhile, the matter is set to return to provincial court July 29.

Johnston faces charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of stolen property under $5,000, driving while uninsured, operating a motor vehicle while prohibited, flight from police, dangerous driving and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Police reported they were looking for a stolen Ford Explorer when they noticed it March 20 in the Dairy Queen drive-thru on Mayor Magrath Drive South. As officers tried to trap the vehicle, it drove into a police vehicle then into the side of a motel office building.

The driver tried again to evade police but failed and was arrested. Two passengers in the vehicle were also taken into custody.

Police searched the vehicle and seized a can of bear spray, which is a prohibited weapon under the Criminal Code, and found a key to a vehicle previously stolen and recovered the day before.

Damage to the motel and Explorer is estimated at $75,000 to $100,000.

During a court hearing in June, McIntyre said she had received an offer from the Crown to resolve the case without going to trial, and the matter was adjourned to give her time to discuss the offer with her client. In May she told court if resolution discussions with the Crown failed, she would consider going to trial.

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