Break-in charge dropped against man suspected in Mount Pearl standoff
But Justin Wiseman still facing many other charges
The man facing multiple criminal charges — including many in connection with a standoff with police at a home in Mount Pearl in March — has one less to deal with.
One count of break and entering was dismissed by the Crown Thursday against Justin Wiseman, who had been accused of forcing his way into an Ultramar station on Bay Bulls Road on March 2.
“There’s no reasonable prospect of conviction,” Crown prosecutor Robin Singleton told Judge Jim Walsh, adding that identity was the issue in the case.
Wiseman, who was represented by Karen Reiner, wasn’t in the courtroom. He remains in custody for several other outstanding charges.
The 26-year-old has been behind bars since March 13, the day of the standoff at the home on Jersey Avenue in Mount
Pearl, when he was arrested for violating his parole. He had been out of jail for about two weeks at that point.
The six-hour standoff ended when police stormed the house after realizing it was on fire. Wiseman was taken to hospital
and treated for minor injuries before going to Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (HMP) to serve the remainder of his sentence after the parole violation.
A few weeks later, police charged him with arson and possessing a weapon (a knife) in connection with the standoff, as well as charges related to a break-in at the Kelsey Drive Liquor Store in St. John’s and a robbery at a Mount Pearl Marie’s Mini Mart earlier the same day. Wiseman is accused of robbing the convenience store while wearing a mask and carrying a knife and a hammer.
Police also laid a charge of possessing a stolen vehicle in the days leading up to the standoff. Month later, he was charged with assaulting another inmate at HMP on June 6.
The break-in charge relating to the liquor store was later dropped.
Wiseman is set to go to trial on the robbery and arson charge in January 2019.