Man caught by batman on Halloween pleads guilty

Guilty pleas were entered Tuesday by a man involved in an impaired driving incident on Halloween that made headlines because of the involvement of a father dressed up as Batman in keeping the man contained.

Nathan Learmont pled guilty to impaired driving, being unlawfully at large and breaching release conditions, receiving a sentence of 44 days time served, a fine of $1,690 and year’s suspension from driving.

The incident has roots from before Halloween, the court heard, as the 23-year-old man had pled guilty earlier that month to simple possession charges and sentenced to 75 days jail, plus nine months probation.

He was granted the right to serve this sentence on weekends, but then failed to report to the Remand Centre for his first weekend.

On Oct. 31 Redcliff RCMP responded to a civilian complaint as Learmont crashed the vehicle he was driving into other vehicles.

“His behaviour was very bizarre,” said the Crown, with the accused screaming, yelling gibberish and appearing to be hallucinating.

There was no evidence of alcohol, but he appeared to be intoxicated by another substance.

The incident made headlines across the province, as it was reported that part of the erratic behaviour included the accused pulling his pants down to his ankles, and that a Suffield man dressed up as Batman out trick-or-treating with his family assisted in containing the man until first responders arrived.

Learmont “obviously has substance abuse issues,” said defence counsel, explaining that being in custody since Halloween has been the first time his client has been involved in “real jail.”

It was fear and anxiety over jailtime that led to Learmont’s unlawfully at large in the first place, counsel said. Learmont has family support, and is working to get into a rehabilitation program to deal with his addictions, the court heard.