Catch and Release in Winnipeg

A fine example of the consequences of Catch and Release justice can be seen today in Winnipeg where today, suspects were apprehended in connection to the incident where a jogger was run down in the street during his morning run. The vehicle used in the incident was stolen, and the prints obtained were helpful in apprehending the miscreants.

Not surprisingly, they were teenagers. Even less surprisingly, of the three arrested thus far, two of them have been apprehended previously in relation to vehicle thefts. The alleged driver "..was on probation, but had been AWOL the past three weeks, meaning he skipped out on his curfew and other police checks. " Hello?!? Why wasn't he locked up after his first curfew violation or missed check? How can anyone blame the police when they have a hard enough time keeping up with the revolving courtroom door that keeps letting these people back out into the community with barely a slap on the wrist.


From the Free Press

The 16 year old driver: Two counts of driving dangerous causing bodily harm, two counts of driving dangerous, two counts of driving while suspended, six counts of failing to comply with a probation order, failure to remain at the scene of a motor vehicle collision. (The boy is a Level 4 offender, the highest level of high-risk offenders, under the Winnipeg Auto Theft Suppression Strategy).

A 13-year-old boy: Two counts of theft over $5,000, Two counts of joyriding and failure to comply with a court undertaking. (The boy was one of six kids arrested March 5 in connection to the theft of two Cadillac Escalades and following smash-up derby in north Winnipeg. He was released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act because at that time he had no criminal record. He is now in custody).

A 16-year-old boy: Driving dangerous, theft over $5,000, failure to remain at the scene of a motor vehicle collision, two counts of joyriding, and possession of break-in tools.

(The boy has no prior convictions and was released under a promise to appear in court at a later date.)

Maybe its just me, but wouldn't you think that possession of break in tools might just be a clue that the latest one that is being released on a promise to appear isn't spending his after school time (assuming that he is actually going to school) at the library studying.

What really got me was the Freep reporter's deliberate mention of the 13 year old starting to cry in court. With the number of people who have had cars stolen or broken into in Winnipeg in any given year, I doubt there's any sympathy to be found for him. Unsurprisingly, his mother declined to talk about the allegations against her son. No kidding. I'm sure her lawyer told her to avoid commenting. Besides, what could she say? I have no control over my son? Most people would sooner swallow live scorpions than to admit something like that.

At the end of the day, we have three kids who decided it might be fun to jack a car and play the reality version of Grand Theft Auto. Someone could have ended up crippled for life or worse, dead, as a result of their 'fun'. It will be interesting to see if justice might actually prevail here, or if the catch of the day will yet again be released to do this all over again.

I'm not holding my breath.