ATHABASCA – A Bigstone Cree Nation man got an 11-day jail sentence after court heard that he had threatened his step-grandfather with a kitchen knife, as well as making a series of 911 calls where he didn’t need help, instead stating that he “just wanted to see you guys.”
In Athabasca Court of Justice Aug. 28, Kyrane Chalifoux pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon, as well as making frivolous or vexatious 911 calls as part of a joint submission between Crown prosecutor Ashlee Kirby and defence lawyer Andrew Zebak.
Chalifoux opted to serve the one-day jail sentence for the 911 calls instead of paying a $250 fine.
An additional count of frivolous or vexatious calls, as well as single charges of failing to attend court, and contravening section eight of the Emergency 911 Act were withdrawn as part of the plea.
Justice Clifton Purvis accepted the plea deal, noting that since Chalifoux had been in custody for a period of two months — Chalifoux had declined to seek bail — he would deem the sentence served in full.
Zebak told court that his client was from Bigstone Cree Nation and had been living on the Jean Baptise Gambler 183 reserve at the time of the offence. Chalifoux, who appeared from the Edmonton Remand Centre via CCTV, waived his right to a Gladue report.
The facts
Kirby told court that on March 27, 2023, Athabasca RCMP received a call where Chalifoux began to scream incoherently inside a residence, pulled out a kitchen knife, and threatened his step-grandfather with it. Kirby said that Chalifoux had been suffering from mental health issues at the time of the offence. She added that despite Chalifoux’s lack of a criminal record, the Crown still felt it appropriate to seek the 10-day jail sentence.
Between Feb. 15 and Feb. 23, Kirby said that Chalifoux called 911 six separate times where he stated that he needed assistance, but nothing was wrong. On Feb. 23, 2023, he called 911 from Mike’s Pizza Restaurant in Athabasca, saying that he needed a ride to the warming shelter as he was cold walking. On March 6, 2023, Athabasca RCMP received a call for assist Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with a suspicious 911 call. When the constable arrived, Chalifoux was speaking with EMS members and seemed to be in good health.
When asked why he called 911, Kirby said Chalifoux responded: “I just wanted to see you guys.”
