Man in stolen car flees police

Matthew James Daley sentenced to 105 days in jail on two

A P.E.I. man who said he fled the police in a stolen car because he panicked was sentenced recently to 105 days in custody.

Matthew James Daley appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court by video from jail and pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen vehicle and evading the police.

Because of public health measures in place to hep reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain), the court proceedings took place with the lawyers involved joining by phone.

During the proceedings, Crown attorney Nathan Beck told the court that on Feb. 21 Charlottetown police responded to a report of a suspicious male at the Charlottetown Mall and another male sitting in a Honda Civic.

Beck said the police learned the vehicle was reported stolen from Grand-Barachois in New Brunswick earlier that month after the owner left the keys in it.

When the police arrived at the mall at around 3:45 p.m., they found Daley in the vehicle.

Beck said Daley looked at the officer and fled, driving into oncoming traffic that was described as being heavy.

He was later arrested at a motel in Charlottetown.

The court heard he was on probation at the time and had outstanding warrants in other provinces.

Defence lawyer Thane MacEachern told the court Daley was in custody at the time the car was stolen in

New Brunswick.

When the police pulled up to him in the vehicle, Daley panicked, MacEachern said.

Since his arrest, Daley was sentenced to 90 days in jail for an unrelated break and enter.

Along with the jail time, which Daley will serve consecutive to any other sentence, he is banned from driving for one year.