The Red Deer man accused of trying to kill two police officers in Lacombe has reserved his plea to give his lawyer time to review the Crown’s evidence.
Weston Kleigh Pickford, 22, was arrested by Red Deer City RCMP following up on a series of incidents that allegedly started with the assault of an RCMP officer in Red Deer, followed by a second alleged attack on municipal police in Lacombe.
Red Deer City RCMP allege that the suspect assaulted a traffic enforcement officer and then drove off. Two Lacombe Police officers following up on a warrant issued in Red Deer attempted to arrest a suspect at a home in Lacombe and were struck by a vehicle as it drove off, heading toward Red Deer.
An ensuing pursuit was turned over to the Red Deer City RCMP, who used a spike belt to immobilize the suspect vehicle.
Now in custody at the Red Deer Remand Centre, Pickford has reserved plea on charges that include two counts of attempted murder, assaulting police officers, flight from police, dangerous driving, possession of break-in tools and breaching probation.
Appearing in Red Deer provincial court by closed-circuit TV from the remand centre on Wednesday, Pickford advised Judge Gordon Deck that he has retained Edmonton lawyer Paul Moreau, who advised him to reserve his plea for two weeks.
Pickford and his lawyer are due back in court on Oct. 2.