Suspect arrested following carjacking appears in court, will remain in custody

A 40-year-old Regina man accused in connection with an alleged Friday carjacking will remain in custody for the time being, the Crown having opposed his release.

During his first appearance at Regina Provincial Court on Monday morning, Larry James Olson — who told the court he is six-footsix — had to duck in order for the judge to see his face on the CCTV camera from the Regina Provincial Correctional Centre.

He faces three charges from the Friday incident: kidnapping and two counts of possession of stolen property — one count pertaining to a 2019 Kia Sportage and the other to licence plates belonging to a named complainant.

He also faces a number of unrelated charges, among them failing to attend court and breaching probation.

“I understand them, yes,” he responded once Judge Murray Hinds had read each of the charges to him.

Olson took exception to two other charges read by Hinds — alleging evading police and possession of a stolen Jeep Patriot, both from June 13, 2019 — stating those charges weren’t his.

After learning the Crown was opposed to his release, Olson asked to speak with a lawyer from Legal Aid. His charges were set over to Jan. 6.

According to information previously released by the Regina Police Service, Olson was arrested on Friday after allegedly trying to flee police by getting into a woman’s vehicle and forcing her to drive him.

Police said officers from the criminal investigation division had spotted a stolen vehicle with a mismatched license plate, also reported stolen.

Police followed the vehicle until it parked on the 6000 block of Rochdale Boulevard.

Police tried to make an arrest, but the driver and lone occupant reportedly fled on foot. He reached the intersection of Rochdale Boulevard and Mccarthy Boulevard where he got into the passenger side of a car that had stopped for a red light. The man then allegedly forced the female driver and lone occupant of the vehicle to drive him.

Police said the man got out of the complainant’s vehicle in the area of 5th Avenue and Retallack Street.

With help from the canine unit, the suspect — subsequently identified as Olson — was located and arrested.

The complainant was not physically injured.