Starzyk sentenced for breaching bail

INCIDENT WAS THE LATEST FOR MAN INVOLVED IN POLICE STANDOFF

A Pincher Creek man who has been arrested three times and released on bail twice since Feb. 8 has been fined and handed a jail sentence.

Dewey Todd Starzyk pleaded guilty Tuesday in Pincher Creek provincial court to breaching bail conditions and possession of cocaine. He was fined $300 for the possession charge and sentenced to 14 days in jail for breaching bail, for which he was given full credit for time already served in custody.

The charges stem from a traffic stop March 3 during which Starzyk, who was out past curfew, was searched and found in possession of cocaine.

Starzyk was on bail at the time after being released following a police standoff with a man Feb. 8 in Pincher Creek. Police responded to an early morning complaint that shots had been fired, and initially reported they had been fired upon when they approached a residence.

A lengthy standoff ensued until Starzyk was taken into custody by the RCMP Emergency Response Team several hours later. He was charged with careless use of a firearm, breach of conditions and three counts of uttering threats.

Starzyk made bail, but less than three weeks later he was back in custody and charged with the offences to which he pleaded guilty Tuesday. He made bail again, but his freedom was short lived and he was arrested April 1 after RCMP went to a residence in Coleman in the Crowsnest Pass.

The 53-year-old accused was charged with robbery with a firearm, careless use of a firearm, carrying a weapon while committing an offence, uttering death threats, drug possession for the purpose of trafficking, and three charges for failing to comply with his conditions.

He remains in custody on those charges pending another bail hearing, which may be held next Tuesday. The Crown has also served notice he intends to apply to revoke Starzyk’s bail on the February charges.

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