THUNDER BAY - A man who was wanted for nearly a year after fleeing from police on several occasions has been sentenced to six months in custody.
James Morrow, 44, appeared in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to three counts of flight from a peace officer and one count of dangerous driving.
The charges relate to incidents that occurred in December 2022 and August 2023. According to the agreed statement of facts, Morrow fled from police on three occasions.
One incident occurred on Dec. 8, 2022 when the Thunder Bay Police Service were conducting a RIDE program in the Westfort area.
Officers observed a red pickup truck slide through an intersection and the driver was directed to stop. Officers observed the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and a glass bottle of beer was in the centre console.
The driver accelerated away from police at a high rate of speed down Frederica Street. Police estimated the driver was travelling approximately 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.
Following another incident in August 2023 when the driver of the same red pickup truck fled from police at a high rate of speed down City Road, the Thunder Bay Police Service issued a public plea for any information to help locate Morrow, who had been identified as the driver.
The police did not pursue Morrow after he fled due to public safety concerns.
Morrow was eventually arrested on Sept. 8, 2023 and charged with three counts of flight from a peace officer and three counts of dangerous driving.
Morrow had no previous criminal record but acknowledged through his counsel that he was struggling with alcohol issues at the time, which is why he did not stop for the police, fearing he would be taken into custody.
Justice Jennifer Hoshizaki called Morrow’s behaviour shocking given that he is in his 40s and had no previous interactions with the criminal justice system up to this point.
Ultimately Hoshizaki agreed with a joint submission on sentence of six months in custody to be followed by 12 months probation.
Morrow was credited with 176 days of enhanced pre-sentence custody and will be released in approximately two days. He will also be required to submit a DNA sample and is prohibited from driving for three years.
All remaining charges were marked withdrawn.
