The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Snoozing driver leads police to weapons
It was just before dawn on a Sunday morning when Halifax Regional Police fielded a call about a driver slumped over and seemingly asleep behind the wheel of a black sport utility vehicle stopped at the intersection of Joseph Howe Drive and Dutch Village Road.
The 6:41 a.m. call on Jan. 31 about what police termed a “suspicious vehicle” led investigators to a gun and lots of ammunition inside the 2010 black Mazda Tribute.
“The caller advised that she had been behind a dark colour SUV,” Det. Const. Sara Brown wrote in documents filed in Halifax provincial court to get a search warrant for the Mazda.
“When the traffic light they were waiting (on) turned green, the SUV did not proceed. The caller went around the SUV and noted the driver appeared to be slumped over in the vehicle.”
ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL
Const. Roger Spriggs arrived on the scene and saw the man behind the wheel, who appeared to be sleeping, Brown said.
“Const. Spriggs roused the driver, described as a Black male (with a) shaved head, tattoos on his face, wearing a grey t-shirt and black pants.”
Spriggs spoke with the driver, later identified as Martin Lukie Joyce, about drinking and driving, the detective said.
“Joyce exited the vehicle and was escorted to the front of the Mazda Tribute. Const. Spriggs went to place Joyce under arrest,” Brown said.
“Joyce said, ‘Not tonight Papa, not tonight,’ and ran.”
EARLY-MORNING FOOT CHASE
Police chased Joyce on foot, even bringing in Jynx, the tracking dog, and his handler Const. Dan Berube to help with the effort, but they couldn’t immediately locate the 35-year-old.
Const. Raylene Way stayed with the Mazda Tribute, waiting for a tow truck. She began cataloguing valuables in the sport utility vehicle before the tow.
“Const. Way located a cellular phone with identification and banking cards on the driver’s seat,” Brown said.
“She noted the identification card was an Ontario Health Card with a photograph and a TD Bank card, no name or signature on the back of the card. The name on the Ontario Health Card was Martin Lukie Joyce.”
BOOZE FOUND ‘IN AND AROUND’ TRIBUTE
Way “noted alcohol beverages in and around the vehicle” as well as a black jacket and sweater on the ground in front of the SUV.
Way then spotted a hockey bag in the rear of the Mazda Tribute.
“She noted the zipper was slightly open, she could see the barrel of a firearm, magazines and ammunition,” said the detective. “Const. Way removed the hockey bag and secured it in her police vehicle. The Mazda Tribute was towed to Halifax Regional Police Headquarters.”
Spriggs confirmed Joyce was the driver he’d spoken with prior to the foot chase.
Det. Const. Illya Nielsen, a forensic identification officer, “confirmed that the firearm inside the hockey bag is a .22 caliber, semi-automatic weapon, with two magazines — one described as a 50round capacity drum magazine, the second described as a 30-round capacity banana magazine,” Brown said.
“The serial number on the firearm appears to have been filed off and painted over.”
Besides the weapons and ammunition, Brown’s warrant said she had “reasonable grounds” to believe a search of the Tribute would turn up DNA evidence, fingerprints and bodily fluids.
When she probed Joyce’s background, Brown found he had a Calgary address. In court records, Joyce has also listed several Dartmouth addresses.
The Mazda Tribute, which had Nova Scotia licence plates, was registered to Lakiesha Raie Snow, who had an address on Herring Cove Road.
MAZDA OWNER STAYS MUM
When Const. Kenneth O’brien went to her place and tried asking Snow who had been driving her SUV, she wasn’t talking.
“Snow would not tell police who had her vehicle at this time, she said it was not stolen,” Brown said.
“Snow would not answer police when asked if she had all the keys for the vehicle; Snow said she would not be answering any more questions as she wanted to check her phone to figure out what had happened.”
FULLY LOADED BANANA CLIP AND THROWING KNIVES
When the detective got her warrant to search the Mazda, she found the banana clip was fully loaded with .22 rounds.
Police also found a Federal Ammunition container of .22 bullets that can hold 450 rounds.
There was $350 in cash in the George Winter jacket found in front of the SUV. Police took swabs from the .22’s trigger, as well as at least one of the magazines.
Brown also found throwing knives in the Mazda Tribute.
Investigators seized a Budweiser beer can and “assorted liquor containers found in the backseat,” Brown said, noting they swabbed the mouth of the beer can as well.
DRIVER NOW FACING CHARGES
Police eventually caught up with Joyce, who is now facing charges in Halifax provincial court including impaired driving, unauthorized possession of a firearm, being the occupant of a vehicle carrying a prohibited firearm, possessing a firearm knowing that its serial number has been altered, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.
Joyce was released from custody in early February with orders to remain in Nova Scotia and stay away from weapons.
He’s slated to appear in court June 17 for election and plea.
Joyce was convicted in 2017 for dangerous driving. The Nova Scotia judge fined him $1,000 and suspended his driver’s licence for 18 months.
Joyce also has a 2007 conviction for possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon, which got him a one-year sentence and a 10-year firearm ban.