OPP nabs man who skipped court

A Red Deer man who was a no-show for his sentencing on serious drug trafficking charges in Medicine Hat has pled guilty to new charges accumulated after fleeing to Ontario.

Paul Rasmussen, 45, was sentenced three provinces over to two years less a day for failing to provide a sample for impaired driving, possessing a stolen licence plate, being in possession of a spring-loaded knife contrary to the weapons prohibition that exists against him, simple possession of methamphetamine, breaching his curfew and breaching release conditions by possessing meth.

He was also given a lifetime driving and weapons prohibition.

Rasmussen had entered guilty pleas in Medicine Hat to 20 drug and firearm charges over a May 2017 drug bust where police say $33,000 in meth was seized. Following these pleas being entered, he was released on a $3,000 surety where he was required to live with his mother under 24/7 curfew in Red Deer, only allowed out with her supervision.

He failed to show up for his Oct. 31 sentencing, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was taken into custody three provinces over Nov. 5 when members of the Dryden Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police received several traffic complaints over a vehicle weaving in and out of traffic on Highway 17 in northwest Ontario.

Rasmussen's co-accused in Medicine Hat has a similar story. Siofean Coderre entered guilty pleas to drug trafficking charges, and was also granted release under strict conditions, then failing to show up for her sentencing. Coderre was re-arrested in Prince Albert. She is now set to be sentenced on Feb. 27.