Roadblock crash, manhunt bring jail
18 months for West Shore man; truck nearly hit 2 officers
A West Shore man who almost hit two police officers when he crashed through a roadblock in a stolen pickup in September 2015 has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.
Derek Ernest Fast, 30, has been in custody since his arrest in Sooke on Sept. 29, 2015. Police launched a massive four-day manhunt with tracking dogs and helicopters after Fast sped away from the roadblock, crashed and rolled the stolen pickup in a ditch on Finlayson Arm Road, then fled on foot.
At Fast’s sentencing hearing on Thursday, Crown prosecutor Steve Salmond described guns drawn, a truck fleeing and officers amazed they had escaped injury.
It began early the morning of Sept. 25, 2015, when a Sooke resident was getting ready for a hunting trip, Salmond said.
The man had placed a rifle and ammunition between the rear bench seat and the driver’s seat of his truck and left his car keys on the floor in front of the driver’s seat.
Fast was prowling cars in the neighbourhood. The hunter went into his house. When he came back out, he saw his truck being driven down his long driveway, Salmond said. There was no indication Fast knew there was a rifle in the truck.
West Shore RCMP were quickly notified. They spotted the truck a few hours later and followed it in marked and unmarked police cars to Goldstream Park. The truck moved into a turnoff on Finlayson Arm Road, and police blocked the turnoff.
An officer, in full uniform, pulled out his revolver, went up to the truck and pointed his firearm at Fast for 12 seconds, Salmond said.
“He said: ‘Derek, stop. Get out of the truck.’ Mr. Fast did not say anything. He looked at the officer,” Salmond said. “Mr. Fast then took off in his truck. The officer did not pursue him. There were other officers, though, parked at the other end of this turnoff. Mr. Fast made his way to the other side of the turnoff and somehow miraculously avoided hitting two officers.”
One officer was on foot, with his rifle pointed at the driver. Another officer was in a police car.
“Both officers were amazed that the truck did not hit them,” Salmond said. “Somehow Mr. Fast must have been a very adept driver because he managed not to strike either officer nor their vehicles and got through a very narrow roadway.”
However, in his haste to get away, Fast crashed the truck, said the prosecutor. It was badly damaged.
The driver of a Slegg lumber truck spotted the rifle in a ditch and notified police.
On Thursday, Fast pleaded guilty in Western Communities provincial court to dangerous driving, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and three counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000.
Defence lawyer Don McKay said his client, who was a drug addict, panicked when police ran up to the truck, yelling and with guns drawn.
“He knew what was going on, but he didn’t understand his reaction until he talked to some counsellors in custody,” McKay said.
At some point, shots were fired by police, McKay said. None hit the truck, but there were shell casings at the scene.
A year or so before this incident, Fast witnessed a friend being shot and killed in Sooke.
“It was a profoundly disturbing incident, although he did not realize it at the time,” McKay said.
In custody, as Fast got clean and sober, he started having nightmares and was diagnosed as having post-traumatic stress disorder. The trial was delayed as a result of that diagnosis but came to a point where the matter could be resolved, McKay said.
“Mr. Fast came to a better understanding of what was going on and could accept responsibility for what happened,” McKay said. “It’s a welcome situation because there’s every reason to believe he has a better understanding of his life now. His time in custody has been put to good use.”
Judge Roger Cutler accepted a joint submission and sentenced Fast to 18 months for dangerous driving and the theft of the truck. He also imposed a concurrent six-month sentence for thefts from three other vehicles that same day.
Cutler gave Fast one year’s credit for time he has already spent imprisoned. This means he must serve a further eight months in custody.
“Mr. Fast. Hopefully, this is the turning point,” the judge said.
“A few more months left, then you’re out. Do not hesitate to seek help.”