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Career criminal back in jail for dangerous driving

A career criminal who was shot at three times by police as he fled arrest in a stolen vehicle last April was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Friday.

A career criminal who was shot at three times by police as he fled arrest in a stolen vehicle last April was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Friday.

Sang Ho Son, 36, of Red Deer, pleaded guilty in Red Deer provincial court to dangerous driving, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and breaking and entering.

Crown prosecutor Ed Ring said a patrolling Blackfalds RCMP officer noticed a suspicious vehicle in the early hours of April 27, 2014 and tracked it to the rear of a local residence. The officer called for backup. Two other patrol cars soon showed up and all three officers got out to investigate before 3 a.m.

Ring said the parked pickup’s lights suddenly came on and it rolled into one cruiser and then hit the two other patrol cars as it fled. One officer fired three rounds into the passenger side of the truck. Son, who was the only occupant, was not hit.

The truck was found abandoned in a field north of Blackfalds next to Hwy 2 about two hours later.

Son was located around 8 a.m. in an industrial park yard by police investigating a report of a suspicious person. He was found inside a welding truck wearing an employee’s clothing.

Ring asked for a sentence of three years.

Defence lawyer Craig Paterson argued for a two-year sentence.

In sentencing, Judge David Plosz called Son a career criminal, noting he had more than 40 convictions dating back to 1997. His last seven-month sentence had expired only a day before his arrest.

“The point is his sentence ended the day before he committed these offences,” said Plosz. “So he didn’t miss a beat in terms of his lifestyle.”

Plosz sentenced Son to one year in prison each for the stolen property and dangerous driving charges and six months for the break and enter. On release, he will be prohibited from driving for three years.

Son was given credit for the 11 months he has spent in custody giving him 19 months left to serve.

The Crown withdrew several other charges including two counts of assault with a weapon and fleeing police.

pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com