A view of the stolen truck. (Submitted photo)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Flight from police results in one-year jail sentence and five-year driving ban

May 21, 2025 | 2:00 PM

A man who was behind the wheel of a stolen truck and fled from police through Prince Albert on four bare rims, has received a one-year jail sentence and a five-year driving prohibition.

Terrance Gardiner, one of three people arrested after the incident last March, appeared by video from the men’s correctional center when his matters were discussed Wednesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court.

Guily pleas were entered to possession of stolen property over $5,000, flight from police and dangerous driving.

The vehicle which was travelling at speeds in the city near 40 km/h was brought to a stop after getting knocked onto its side by police. The occupants were then removed from the vehicle after officers smashed the windows.

Earlier that day, at approximately 2:10 p.m., Prince Albert RCMP first received a report of an injured man walking in the area of Hazelwood Road and Highway 302 East, approximately 10 kilometers from the city.

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According to facts read in court by Crown Prosecutor Doug Howell, the man was covered in blood and explained that after stopping to pick up a hitchhiker, he was assaulted with a hammer.

The injured man was taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life threatening.

RCMP previously confirmed the two men were not known to one another and according to discussion heard in court on Wednesday, it’s not clear who it was that actually struck the victim.

Officers made patrols in the area and located the stolen truck travelling southbound on Highway 2 towards the City of Prince Albert. At this time, multiple occupants were observed in the truck and officers engaged their emergency equipment and attempted a traffic stop, but the truck fled at a high rate of speed. Officers then followed in the direction of the suspect vehicle into the City of Prince Albert, but later lost sight of it.

“At times it was travelling at speeds in excess of 120 km/h,” Howell said, adding when when it was later located, the vehicle was observed weaving between lanes and went through several stop signs.

For safety reasons, a tire deflation device was set up and the truck ran it over, causing all four tires to deflate, and eventually was brought to a stop off 15th Ave. East.

The vehicle in question, which actually belonged to the mother of the assault victim, was written off by SGI.

In addition to his jail sentence and driving prohibition, Gardiner has also been ordered to pay over $16,000 in restitution.

The Crown had initially suggested Gardiner pay over $50,000, but defence lawyer Patrick McDougall successfully argued it should be split three ways.

Referencing a prior flight from police conviction from 2022, Judge Harradence encouraged Gardiner to make better choices, warning him further offences will result in longer jail sentences.

“This behaviour needs to stop,” he said.

With credit for pre-sentence custody, Gardiner has roughly eight months left to serve.

Also charged in the case was Wayne Merasty who is also from Île-à-la-Crosse and has a pending court date. Nadine Stalthanee from Black Lake failed to show up for court and is currently on bench warrant status.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Blue Sky: @nigelmaxwell.bsky.social