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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-02-17, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2011.Man turns himself in after police pursuit The three martial artists From left; Adam, Neil and Todd Martin participate in Tae Kwon Do and recently visited Kitchener for a tournament there. Adam and Neil both earned a bronze and silver medals, and Todd brought home two golds. Neil also received a special award for his progress throughout the year. (Denny Scott photo) Andrew Bailey of Wingham,formerly of Blyth, was found guiltyof failing to stop for police andbreaching his probation order byJudge R.G.E. Hunter in Winghamcourt on Feb. 10.Bailey was being pursued bypolice while on a dirt bike around Wingham on July 10, 2010, crown attorney Teresa Donnelly said. A Wingham police officer activated his cruiser’s emergency lights and attempted to stop Bailey, but he continued to travel west on Hwy. 86 out of Wingham. He failed to stop for the officer, leading the officer to eventually discontinue the pursuit. The officer said the dirtbike had been known to him previously as he had informed the driver, Bailey, that he could not operate such a recreational vehicle on roads and in town. Six days after the pursuit, Bailey travelled to the Wingham police station where he admitted to not stopping for police and turned himself in. Donnelly said that these charges were Bailey’s first matters as an adult, but that a probation order was still binding from a juvenile offence. Later in 2010, on Oct. 21, police conducted a search of a home where Bailey was with four of his friends.The officers found a bag ofmarijuana, which Bailey admittedwas his.Bailey, who has just turned 18,said he lives on his own and supportshimself with a job at a local pet storeand asked for minimal fines. He alsosaid that he no longer owns thedirtbike he had been riding duringthe July incident. Hunter ordered Bailey to pay a $300 fine for fleeing from police and a $100 fine for the breach of probation. He was given a 12-month driving prohibition and 12 months probation resulting from the marijuana charge. He has six months to pay the fines. CARELESS DRIVING Blaine Lehner of Kitchener, formerly of RR4, Brussels, was ordered to pay over $800 in fines resulting from convictions on a Breach of Probation charge and a Careless Driving charge. The incident occurred on Sept. 4, 2010, when Lehner was driving to work, Donnelly said. Lehner lost control of his car, she said, which left the road and rolled over several times before finally coming to rest in a ditch while driving through North Huron. When police were notified, Donnelly said, the responding officer detected an odour of stale alcohol on Lehner’s breath. Headmitted that he had consumedalcohol the night before, but said hehadn’t drank anything that morning.As a condition of his probation,Lehner was to abstain from theconsumption of alcohol or any otherintoxicating substances. Theprobation originated in Kitchenerfrom two assault charges and aforcible confinement charge. Lehner was given six months to pay the fines. FAILURE TO REMAIN Jason Stryker of Blyth was found guilty of failing to remain at the scene of an accident stemming from an incident in Blyth on Aug. 14, 2010. Donnelly said Stryker had been driving a 1997 Chevrolet shortly after 2 a.m. when his vehicle struck a parked car. The owner of the car was awake and came outside to see the wreckage and a licence plate in the road. The car was eventually traced back to Stryker who had made his way home after the collision on Dinsley Street. Duty Counsel Lynn Johnson said that Stryker, who is asthmatic, was having a coughing fit at the time, as he had been smoking earlier in the night and that was part of the reason why he lost control of the car. Hunter ordered Stryker to pay a $500 fine. He will have six months to pay. UTTERING THREATS Brian Goetz of Howick was found guilty of assault, stemming from anincident on Feb. 28, 2010 and ofuttering threats from an incident onJan. 3.Donnelly said the first incidentoccurred at Goetz’s home inWroxeter. He had been drinking andhe was yelling at his wife andthrowing chairs around their home.After he exited the home, hecontinued to bang on the doors and windows of the home, Donnelly said. When he finally came in contact with his wife, Donnelly said she told police officers that Goetz had pulled her hair and pushed her. Police officers observed that Goetz was highly intoxicated that night. On Jan. 3, police responded to another domestic disturbance call at the Goetz house where Donnelly said Goetz had thrown a pack of cigarettes at his wife. Goetz had been charged with assault with a weapon that night, but that charge was dropped. However, as police officers detained Goetz, in his intoxicated state, he uttered several threats to the police officers concerning his wife while in the back of the police cruiser. Donnelly said Goetz told the officers, “if I ever get these handcuffs off, I’m going to punch her in the face” going on to say that he would stab her and eventually kill her during his profanity-laced rant. Donnelly said that Goetz’s wife was willing to take her husband backinto the family home (the couple hastwo children together) but that hewould have to undergo alcoholcounselling first. Donnelly saidGoetz’s wife would be confident thatthe pair could patch things up ifalcohol was no longer a factor, asevery incident of abuse hadsomehow involved alcohol.Donnelly said Goetz has an extensive criminal history with alcohol. In addition to his domestic abuse charges, Goetz has been convicted of driving with over 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood thrice (1982 and twice in 1987) and impaired driving once (2000). Goetz, who had spent five days in pre-sentence custody, was recommended for a suspended sentence, both by the defense and the prosecution, due to the circumstances and the willingness of Goetz’s wife to give him another chance. Duty counsel Lynn Johnson said that Goetz has taken the first step in admitting that he has an alcohol problem and that he is in the process of taking significant steps to address the aforementioned problem. On the recommendation of both attorneys, Hunter handed Goetz 12 months probation and a suspended sentence. One of his probation conditions is that he abstain from alcohol absolutely. He was also issued a five-year weapons prohibition. Continued from page 17 said. “And, with the exception of their two or three tournaments, it’s always in the same place.” Pam explained that, with their family running a dairy farm, it would be difficult to get children in three different hockey leagues to their games, given that she would have to do most of the driving. “It really is cost and travel- friendly,” she said. “The kids have the same lessons at the same times regardless of age.” She also said that Tae Kwan Do has really helped the children develop. “Neil was really nervous and shy before he started, and now he has overcome that,” she said, adding that she was happy to see that change, and see how her children were learning about respect and discipline. “I really felt good the first time I got a gold medal,” Neil said, stating he really felt he was good at something. The Martins also play soccer and baseball to keep them busy year round, but all three said they enjoy martial arts training very much. Neil enjoys patterns, or practising choreographed moves, while Adam and Todd enjoy sparring against other students. 404 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 The Citizen Winter Reading THE SNOWSHOE EXPERIENCE Snowshoeing can be your passport to winter enjoyment. With this nuts- and-bolts guide you have everything you need to know to get started and enjoy this low-cost, hassle-free winter sport. $13.50 THE MAPLE SYRUP BOOK The reward for surviving a Canadian winter is the sweet tradition of maple syrup. 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