Bail laws that allow repeat violent offenders to be released from custody without sufficient regard for public safety need to be toughened up, says the Mayor of Warman.
Gary Philipchuk said an incident that occurred July 6 in Warman could have had serious consequences had it not been for the immediate response of RCMP officers.
“It’s very disturbing to see that someone with a long list of outstanding warrants for violent offenses is able to endanger the public,” said Philipchuk. “There could easily have been a fatality that day.”
Philipchuk made his comments in an interview following a meeting of Warman City Council on Monday, July 10.
A news report on the CKOM/PA Now websites stated that 29-year-old Theron Owens of Prince Albert was facing a long list of charges after the stolen truck he was allegedly driving collided with a second vehicle with four occupants in Warman on Thursday, July 6. The stolen truck ended up on its roof.
According to CKOM/PA Now, RCMP said in a news release the truck was initially reported stolen in Prince Albert on Tuesday, July 4. Then, on Thursday afternoon, Saskatoon Police told Warman RCMP a truck involved in a theft in Saskatoon was headed their way.
A short time after that, police received several reports of a vehicle driving dangerously between Martensville and Warman. Then officers were called to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Central Street and 4th Avenue in Warman.
The crash occurred about a block away from Warman City Hall and the Warman RCMP detachment building.
After exiting the truck, Owens allegedly assaulted a Warman resident with the intention of carjacking a vehicle to escape from police.
Philipchuk said the fact that the stolen truck ended up on its roof indicated it was travelling at a high speed when it crashed into the second vehicle. The four occupants of that vehicle were not seriously injured. They were attended to by Warman Fire Rescue first responders after witnesses called 911.
“It was fortunate nobody was killed in that crash,” said Philipchuk. “It could have been much worse.
“And the fact that the driver of the stolen truck assaulted another person showed he’s a danger to the public.”
Warman RCMP officers were on the scene quickly and arrested Owens. A search of the stolen truck uncovered 45 grams of crystal meth and 20 grams of cocaine. According to the Prince Albert Crimestoppers website, Theron Owens was wanted by Prince Albert Police on numerous firearms-related charges, as well as charges of robbery with violence and breach of court release orders.
Owens was scheduled to appear in Saskatoon provincial court on Monday, July 10.
Owens, originally from Cumberland House, had been arrested a year ago, in July, 2022, by Nipawin RCMP on charges related to weapons, drugs, mischief, and resisting arrest, according to a posting on the Nipawin Journal website. He was also wanted by Prince Albert Police on outstanding warrants at that time.
Philipchuk said there have been numerous instances over the last several years where repeat violent offenders have committed serious crimes while out on bail.
Philipchuk said Warman City Council intends to send a letter to federal Justice Minister David Lametti urging him to strengthen bail laws targeting repeat violent offenders.
“I’ve heard similar calls from mayors of other Saskatchewan cities for the laws to be strengthened,” said Philipchuk. “When something like this happens so close to home, it shows that changes are urgently needed. This is an opportunity to be proactive before something even more serious occurs.”