"This incident occurred at a time when there was a high trend of assaults and violence against police," said Const of Victoria Police. Todd Mason, 12 year veteran.
The three-year prison sentence for the man who rammed an unsuspecting policeman with a stolen car outside Our Place last year helps signal that assaults on officers will not be tolerated, injured police say. told Wednesday.
"This incident occurred at a time when there was a high trend of assaults and violence against police," said Const of Victoria Police. Todd Mason, 12 year veteran. "It has to end. We need to protect the police, because if we don't, who will protect the public. So this sentence sends the message that the police are not being targeted."
Mason made such comments after Chance Nicole, a 28-year-old homeless man with a heroin addiction, was taken out of court to start his sentence. did Nicole pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and assaulting a police officer with a weapon on September 27, 2021. He also pleaded guilty to mischief for breaking the windows of two of his downtown stores.
Police officers, including Deputy Chief Jason Reidman, appear in court to express their support for Mason, who said the court process was over and he could focus on his physical recovery and mental health.
Mason suffered from a "significant deformity of the right shoulder" diagnosed as "Grade 4 separation". . He will have surgery in the next few weeks.
“It will probably be a daily battle for the rest of my life. I think I still have a lot to contribute."
Victoria Police Chief Del Manac said the three-year sentence was "at a time when police officers should perform their duties in an ethical manner." "No," he said, sending a strong message of deterrence.
"Almost a year has passed," said the chief. "Think about every day you live with these scars, ups and downs, and emotional turmoil. Why. Because he wore a police uniform, cared about himself, and kept people safe." 41}
A factual confession read into the court records reveals that Nichol wanted to be arrested and had elevated levels of criminal activity until he ended up in prison. increase.
At approximately 12:30 am on September 27, Nicole was taken by ambulance to Royal Jubilee Hospital where he complained of heroin withdrawal symptoms. He was discharged from the hospital at 7:30 a.m. because he did not cooperate with treatment. Nicole took a bus to Oak Bay and on Beach Drive he found the car keys on the 1300 block and parked nearby he was able to match it to a 2008 Cobalt, attendees said.
Nicole stole a car and his reckless driving drew public attention. He ended up on Pandora Avenue where the police were assisting an ordinance officer. He stopped behind a marked police vehicle. Mason was standing by the driver's side window of a police car, talking to two officers.
Nicol accelerated Cobalt rapidly toward the back of the patrol car. Mason tried to jump out, but he got hit. The officer crashed into the hood, windshield and cobalt roof, propelling him 15 feet into the air before hitting the pavement. The car hits a garbage dump and comes to a halt with one tire on Mason's ankle.
In his five seconds before impact, Cobalt accelerated him to a speed of 38 km/h and then began to decelerate. According to visitors, it crashed into the trash can at a speed of 23 km/h.
After viewing video of the incident, District Court Judge Adrian Brooks said he was left with the impression that Nicole drove directly to Mason. "He couldn't back up or get around the vehicle. He was trapped. He was mowed down," said Brooks, realizing that Nicole's moral responsibility was very high. 59}
Using a car as a weapon against a person who could not escape was a police officer doing his job and a very serious offense, Brooks said.
According to the psychological reports prepared for sentencing, Nichol's upbringing was precarious, and by the age of 13 he was on his own, at times homeless, and at times homeless. At age 16, he began taking heroin, a drug addiction, that has dominated his life, Brooks said in a review of the evidence. drove through town and exacerbated endangering the community when they drove towards "unsuspecting" people. What's even worse is Nicole's criminal record.
The defense argued that Nicole's moral responsibility should be mitigated by the fact that she was addicted to drugs and had quit heroin, but Brooks disagreed and said that Nicole had no idea how addicted she was. He said he couldn't accept his addiction even though he knew it was serious. was.
"He found himself sick and addicted to drugs, and decided to drive a motor vehicle that he had neither the right nor the ability to drive. He was on a street with a lot of people…and he chose to accelerate his car with extreme force.”
Nicole's early guilty plea was waived and he was released on bail. It works well with money, the judge said. His rehab efforts are significant.
"The ruling should not end the prospect of rehabilitation," Brooks said.
The King had asked him to serve a prison term of 48 months from him 41 months. Defense counsel had asked that his sentence be reduced by one day to two years.
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