WESTLOCK – A Westlock man who repeatedly rammed an RCMP cruiser with his pickup truck and had to be pepper-sprayed during his arrest in early 2023, will be sentenced on the first day of November.
In Westlock Court of Justice Aug. 30, Edwin Gordon Graf pleaded guilty to flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, resisting a peace officer and mischief under $5,000, with sentencing put over to Nov. 1 for completion of Gladue Report. Three separate charges of resisting, assaulting and obstructing a peace officer, along with single counts of mischief-damage over $5,000 and failing to hold a valid driver’s licence, are expected to be withdrawn then.
Justice Vaughn Myers urged Graf to work with the report writers so they can get an understanding of his history — Gladue Report typically considers a multitude of factors that can lead an Indigenous person to become in conflict with the law.
“Mr. Graf, this report studies your background and your family’s background. So, they’re going to get in touch with you and I ask that you do everything in your power to accommodate them and help them as it’s only to your benefit,” said Justice Myers, who also ordered a transcript of that day’s sitting be provided to the Justice and lawyers prior to sentencing.
The crime
Crown prosecutor Brett Grierson told court that on Jan. 17, 2023, police were patrolling 108th Street in Westlock when they spotted Graf driving his pickup — police suspected he didn’t have a valid licence and initiated a “routine traffic stop.”
Graf stopped his vehicle in the middle of 108th Street, leaned out the driver’s side window and yelled, “What the **** do you want?” before fleeing. Ultimately, a short pursuit ended when police showed up at Graf’s home and blocked his truck in the driveway.
Members exited their vehicles and told Graf he was under arrest for flight from police when he put his truck into reverse and “rammed the marked police car multiple times … causing front-end damage to the vehicle.”
Grierson said during the arrest Graf wouldn’t comply with commands from the officers and “became violent and aggressive” and they eventually used pepper spray to try and subdue him.
“He was eventually brought under control, placed in handcuffs and put in the police vehicle,” said Grierson.
Then on June 24, 2023, RCMP received a report of a break-in in progress at the Rotary Spirit Centre. Two suspects, including Graf, had left the scene and police quickly tracked them down.
Graf admitted to Justice Myers that he cut the lock at the building, while it was the co-accused who had entered the facility.
