A 20-year-old man who led police on a brief chase will spend one more month in jail.
Mitchell Wickstrom pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of stolen property, flight from police and breach of probation.
Wickstrom was handed a six-month sentence, but with time served he will be left with only 30 days remaining.
Police received a 911 call on Dec. 16 after a driver, whose vehicle had been stolen the day before, spotted Wickstrom behind the wheel.
As police rushed to the scene, they turned on their emergency lights and attempted to have Wickstrom pull over.
Wickstrom, with three other people in the car, sped off and raced through two red lights before police called off the chase, fearing an accident.
The chase started on Winston Churchill Avenue near the Fountain Park Recreation Centre. Wickstrom raced through the lights at Green Grove Drive. Officers also noticed that Wickstom’s quick acceleration caused the vehicle to fishtail.
RCMP later found the three passengers, who were let out of the vehicle after the police chase ended. The passengers had told Wickstrom to pull over, but he refused.
Wickstrom was arrested the next day when a police officer spotted him at Fountain Park.
Two officers gave chase on foot, but were having trouble gaining ground when a passing motorist slowed down and gave them a lift.
One of the officers drove with the bystander until he was in front of Wickstrom and then tackled him into a snow bank.
Defence lawyer George Isshak said Wickstrom’s time in custody had been eye-opening. He had already enlisted in the Canadian Forces and was due to join the army in the spring and wanted to put his past behind him, he said.
“We are hoping his decision to join the military might be a turnaround in his life.”
Judge Jeanne Burch sentenced him to four months for the flight from police charge and two more months for both the breach and possession of stolen property charge.
The Crown withdrew several other charges against him including other breaches of probation and three counts of unlawful confinement.
