Defence says Oliver RCMP has wrong man in motorcycle chase

An Oliver man facing charges for allegedly fleeing from police on a motorcycle and possessing a stolen car is claiming police have the wrong man.

Jeremy Leslie Hargreaves, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a controlled substance (methamphetamine) during a bail hearing Wednesday in provincial court in Penticton.

Hargreaves will await a bail decision on charges of flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property under $5,000 until a report on electronic monitoring for house arrest is prepared.

Defence counsel James Pennington said the police, and Crown, have the wrong man on those charges.

Crown counsel Ann Lerchs said on July 20, 2017 around 5 p.m. police alleged they saw Hargreaves attempting to start a motorcycle on Main Street in Oliver which took off on the highway at a high rate of speed during rush hour, nearly crashing and losing police after driving into bushes.

Oliver RCMP said they were able to identify Hargreaves from tattoos on his forearm, including one that spells out “tank” and another of a skull and crossbones.

Hargreaves, who appeared at the bail hearing via video, showed he did have a calligraphy-style tattoo of the word “tank,” but no skull and crossbones.

“Mr. Hargreaves was not even in Oliver at the time of the driving infraction,” Pennington said. “It never fails to amaze me how police officers driving by at the speed limit see minute details like that. Especially with a motorcycle helmet on and the tattoos, as you can see, don’t match what the officer saw.”

Hargreaves was on bail for another matter during a curfew check around 2:30 a.m. earlier on July 20. Police alleged they saw Hargreaves in a black hoodie working on a vehicle parked next to his residence with no license plate.

After contacting the owner, who found his vehicle was not where he parked it, police determined it to be stolen.

“That is not him working on the vehicle late at night,” Pennington said.

Hargreaves, who was on court-ordered conditions not to be driving a vehicle, pleaded guilty to possessing 0.9 grams of methamphetamine (including the weight of the baggie it was contained in) on Feb. 15 when RCMP pulled over the truck he was driving due to a burnt-out taillight.

He was sentenced to time served since his arrest and awaits a bail decision in custody.