Preliminary hearing in fatal crash case
The preliminary hearing for a Sylvan Lake man charged with impaired driving causing death in an incident dating back more than four years started on Monday.
Preston Clifford Hanson, 24, was charged about a year ago in the single-vehicle rollover that took the life of Nathan Medwid, 19.
The Red Deer provincial court hearing is expected to run for another two days.
Preliminaries are held to determine if there’s enough evidence to warrant the accused stand trial in Court of Queen’s Bench.
There was a ban on information imposed by the court at the start of the hearing.
RCMP said earlier that the rollover occurred on Hwy 20, about eight km northeast of Sylvan Lake, in the early hours of Dec. 5, 2006.
The vehicle the two men were travelling in rolled, ejecting the passenger, Medwid. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Hanson was also ejected in the crash.
Sylvan Lake RCMP charged Hanson at the end of June 2010, following a lengthy investigation.
Red Deer major crimes unit, Calgary investigative assistance team, Red Deer criminal crash investigative team and a Red Deer RCMP collision analyst were also involved in the probe.
Both Medwid and Hanson originated from Swan River, Man.
Arson of home on wheels investigated by police
Red Deer city RCMP are calling for the public’s help in tracking down those responsible for deliberately destroying an unoccupied house on wheels last month.
On May 21, shortly after midnight, Red Deer County firefighters were returning to the fire station when they saw a blaze on Red Deer’s southern edge.
The fire destroyed Saba and Khurram Sheikh’s home on a five-acre private acreage just inside the city’s limits at Delburne Road, located off Hwy 595 and 30th Avenue.
The vacant home was on wheels because it was going to be transported to a lot in Red Deer in a few months.
No one was injured in the fire.
The cause of the fire was concluded to be arson shortly after the fire was extinguished. Red Deer fire prevention officer Wes Van Bavel then turned the case over to Red Deer RCMP for further investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com. If the information leads to an arrest, tipsters are eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Man wanted on warrants arrested by Red Deer police
RCMP have arrested a man sought on two warrants.
At about 3 p.m. on Saturday, Red Deer City RCMP arrested Brad Morency without incident at a residence in the Woodlea area of Red Deer.
He was wanted on two outstanding warrants. One was for a parole violation and the second was issued following an incident on June 16 when Red Deer RCMP attempted to conduct a traffic stop with a vehicle Morency was allegedly driving.
Police said Morency failed to stop and continued to drive in a manner dangerous to the public.
Morency was on statutory release when his parole was revoked for breaching conditions.
He was remanded into custody and is to appear in Red Deer provincial court today.
Champion hoop dancer to perform tonight
A world-champion hoop dancer will entertain and aboriginal fusion food will be on the menu at the third-annual Aboriginal Turtle Awards tonight.
The 5 p.m. fundraiser for the Red Deer Native Friendship Centre that celebrates native achievement will be held at the Capri Centre. It includes a silent auction and menu that includes buffalo steak and bannock. Champion hoop dancer Dallas Arcand will perform, along with Billy Walker.
The Aboriginal Turtle Awards honour First Nations, Inuit and Metis people who are making a unique contribution towards the future. Sixteen aboriginal community members will be recognized at this year’s ceremony.
Tickets for the fundraising dinner are $60 each, or $420 per table of eight, from the Red Deer Native Friendship Society or Red Deer Aboriginal Employment Service.
For more information, call Mandy at 403-340-0020.
