A Vancouver man prohibited previously caught wielding an imitation machine gun has had his conditional sentence reinstated after he drank two beers.
Adam James Hindle received an 18-month conditional sentence in June for the offence of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace. He had pleaded guilty.
Among its conditions, the sentence included residing at the Together We Can recovery house, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, following a curfew, submitting to electronic monitoring, and participating in forensic counselling assessment and treatment.
Vancouver provincial court Judge Reginald Harris said reinstating the conditional sentence, rather than sending him to jail, was in both Hindle’s and the public’s interest.
The situation dates back to August 2020, when Hindle drove to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with the intention of assisting a friend who had been assaulted.
“When he arrived, Mr. Hindle exited his vehicle carrying an imitation machine gun at the low ready position,” said the Oct. 14 ruling.
Harris said Hindle walked down a lane, East Hastings Street and into a grocery and small convenience store.
“Throughout, he pointed the machine gun at numerous vulnerable persons and he verbally threatened them,” Harris said. “Hindle’s actions caused people to believe that they were about to die, thus, triggering a significant police response.”
Leading up to that offence, Hindle had undergone various stressors, said the judge, including suffering from a bulging disk and having an unhappy relationship. He had stopped taking his mental health medications and resumed drinking.
“He has always maintained that he did not intend hurt anyone one,” Harris said.
However, in June, Hindle admitted to the recovery house staff he had consumed two beers. He was asked to leave.
He reported to his conditional sentence supervisor who submitted a breach report and a warrant was executed.
Hindle appeared in court and was told to get into a recovery house.
He was told Together We Can would have a bed for him on July 4.
Instead, he removed his belongings from the recovery house and cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet.
For four days, Hindle’s whereabouts were a mystery.
Then, in the early hours of July 8, he was captured on CCTV driving his truck erratically at a high rate of speed in the Downtown Eastside.
Soon, he passed a group of people and made a U-turn to get back to them.
“At that point, someone in the group shot Mr. Hindle’s truck. Mr. Hindle then drove around the block returning to the area where the shot occurred and he confronted the person who he thought was responsible for the shooting.
According to the judge, Hindle threatened to return and kill the shooter.
Two days later, a family member called police concerned about Hindle.
“Apparently, Mr. Hindle had texted his sister saying nonsensical things about being a gangster and overdosing on fentanyl,” Harris said.
Police located him and he kept him in custody.
Harris said Hindle has a record of convictions for assaults, property offences, failing to comply with orders, robbery, driving offences, threats and weapons.
In arriving at his decision, the judge said Hindle posed no threat in the breach, and that he reported it himself. Harris added the changes in his conditional sentence will assist Hindle’s rehabilitation.
Jail, he said, would hinder the positive changes the man has already made.
