Program extended for accused

A20-year-old man accused of leading police on a high-speed chase last summer needs more time to complete a program that may help him avoid prosecution. It’s the second time Blain Sweetgrass has been granted an extension of the Mental Health Diversion program, a pretrial procedure that allows an accused person to receive treatment and counselling.

The program is aimed at reducing the likelihood of the accused re-offending, and the Crown uses its discretion, on a case-bycase basis, not to prosecute. Unlike the Alternative Measures program, it’s not necessary for the accused to admit guilt of an offence, and the Crown may stay or withdraw the charge if the accused is suffering from a mental illness which may be the underlying cause of the alleged criminal conduct.

Sweetgrass was accepted into the program last November, but it was extended in March. During a hearing Tuesday in Lethbridge provincial court the accused was granted another extension after mental health professionals involved in his case requested two more months.

Sweetgrass is charged with single counts of careless storage of a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and dangerous driving. He was, however, only placed on the diversion program in relation to the two weapons charges.

During the early morning hours of Aug. 18, Lethbridge police responded to a 911 call from a reportedly suicidal man who said he had a firearm and wanted to engage police.

When police arrived at the man’s location, he fled in a vehicle and drove through the city at speeds exceeding 100 km/h.

Just before 4 a.m., the vehicle was disabled in the eastbound lanes of WhoopUp Drive and traffic was closed in both directions. Members of the tactical team and explosive disposal unit assisted, as did the Medicine Hat Police Service armoured rescue vehicle.

An officer on scene and a crisis negotiator contacted the armed man, who remained inside his vehicle until surrendering at about 5:51 a.m. Police removed from the vehicle a loaded SKS rifle along with five full clips and one partial clip of steel core ammunition.

The case is scheduled to return to court June 13 to confirm completion of the diversion program.

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