A man who drove into oncoming Vancouver traffic as police tried to pull him over has been fined $1,000, prohibited from driving for nine months and put on probation for one year.
On June 24, Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Andrea Brownstone heard Jack Alves pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention and obstructing police.
Crown prosecutor Louise Gauld told Brownstone that police saw Alves' car on the 220-block of Kingsway. They investigated his licence plates and found he was prohibited from driving.
She said they saw Alves in the vehicle as they passed, did a U-turn and pulled in behind him. She said they then pulled alongside and exchanged eye contact with Alves several times.
Then, she said, Alves “took off” but kept obeying traffic controls as he went.
Soon, he turned east onto East 29the Avenue where there was a line of traffic.
“He manoeuvred his vehicle into oncoming traffic,” Gauld said.
He then turned north and police ended their pursuit.
Instead, they went to his address and attempted to arrest him.
“Alves kept saying he wasn’t driving,” Gauld said.
There was a struggle where officers at one point had his wrists and he was clenching his fists, the court heard.
Brownstone heard Alves has a record of two charges of driving intoxicated, multiple speeding tickets and two 24-hour prohibitions.
Alves’ lawyer, John Stowe, said the 62-year-old has committed to taking a responsible driving course during his probation period.
Asked if he had anything to say before sentence was passed, Alves said, “I apologize for the circumstances.”
