12-year term for man who injured Mounties
An Alberta man who shot one RCMP officer and ran over another who jumped onto his truck during an hours-long shootout has been sentenced to a dozen years in prison.
Michael Leslie Johnson, 35, was originally charged with attempted murder of the two officers, but pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault in a Vegreville courtroom.
Johnson’s battle with numerous RCMP officers began on Jan. 6, 2014, when Vegreville RCMP were searching for him after a number of property crimes in the area. They believed he was driving a stolen black Dodge truck.
That same day, Two Hills RCMP were investigating a break-in at a rural home where a masked man stole one rifle and two shotguns. Police believed Johnson was the man beneath the mask.
Officers discovered Johnson was near Tofield by tracking his phone. They searched for him on a friend’s farm and found the black Dodge filled with stolen items. The violence began as soon as they discovered Johnson hiding in a shed on the property and attempted to arrest him.
“Johnson fought off several RCMP officers simultaneously, demonstrating unusual physical strength and stamina before fleeing the building for his truck,” according to an agreed statement of facts.
Johnson tried to flee the farm and leaped into the stolen truck. RCMP Cpl. Travis Ogilvie jumped onto the truck’s running boards and leaned into the open window to try to stop Johnson. Ogilvie shot Johnson in the arm as the truck pulled away.
“As the vehicle was driving and Johnson and the officer grappled, Cpl. Ogilvie fell beneath the wheels of the truck and was run over,” court heard. The officer suffered “catastrophic injuries to his lower legs and arm.”
The injured Johnson didn’t even make it past the farm’s driveway before he skidded out of control and wedged the truck into a snowdrift. Johnson didn’t give up and bullets started flying.
For hours, Johnson and RCMP officers fired at each other along the snowy driveway. During the shootout, court heard, Johnson fired at the seriously injured Ogilvie as the officer lay in the snow. Several officers, “at great risk to themselves” dragged Ogilvie to safety. The officer later recovered.
One officer, identified only as Const. Rayner, was injured when a bullet grazed his arm during the shootout.
Johnson fought off several RCMP officers simultaneously, demonstrating unusual physical strength and stamina...
Johnson was shot in the right forearm, the left upper arm and a third shot grazed his shoulder. The last bullet fragmented and a piece of shrapnel embedded in his skull.
Johnson surrendered shortly after the RCMP Emergency Response Team arrived at the farm. He underwent several surgeries.
Johnson pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, several firearms offences and theft. He was sentenced Oct. 6.
After credit for time served in pre-trial custody, Johnson has nine years and five months left to serve.