Bail has been denied for a Red Deer man who is alleged to have led multiple police departments on a chase through Central Alberta.
Weston Kleigh Pickford, 22, will remain in custody after a lengthy show cause hearing regarding his potential judicial interim release.
Crown prosecutor Jillian Brown detailed the allegations facing Pickford to Red Deer provincial court Judge Gordon Yake on Thursday.
Pickford faces charges that include two counts of attempted murder, assaulting a police officer, flight from police and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
He has also been charged with possession of break-in instruments and breach of probation.
Lacombe Police Service said two officers narrowly escaped injury after trying to arrest a suspect at a Lacombe residence at about 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 4.
Police said as officers approached the residence, a male got into his vehicle, revved his engine and allegedly aimed the vehicle at two officers.
A high-speed chase ensued, leaving Lacombe and heading into Red Deer.
Red Deer RCMP deployed a spike belt and blew out the vehicle’s tires.
The vehicle travelled another four km before hitting a curb and a tree.
Police arrested a suspect in what they described as a high-risk takedown.
Defence counsel Paul Moreau, of Edmonton, broke down Pickford’s past problems, his struggle with addiction and his diagnosed bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and attention deficit disorder.
Moreau said Pickford would be able to provide $2,000 cash bond and would be able to gain employment from two different sources.
In the end, Yake denied bail, saying he was not satisfied that Pickford could not maintain conditions of a release, which Moreau said should include abstinence from intoxication substances, random drug and alcohol testing and psychological evaluation with recommended treatment and therapy.
Yake said he was quite concerned Pickford’s addictions would take over again.
The matter was adjourned to Nov. 7 in Red Deer provincial court.