An impaired driver who narrowly missed a Mountie after his wayward ski doo crashed in front of the Tuktoyaktuk detachment was sentenced last week at a hearing that brought police SA国际影视传媒渧ulnerabilitySA国际影视传媒� into focus.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was frozen in fear,SA国际影视传媒� the now transferred ConstableSA国际影视传媒檚 victim impact statement, read aloud in court by the Crown on June 25, stated.

On March 13, an intoxicated Kristopher Elias, 34, was observed by two off-duty officers, who were in front of the station moving a snowmobile into a garage, skidding back and forth on a road where numerous children were playing.

Heading straight toward the officers, Elias tried to correct course but crashed into a snowbank, sending his snowmobile flying through the air. It landed just metres from the Mounties. He told officers he was trying to kill himself.

The incident, according to the victim impact statement, was eye-opening for the officer, who was left SA国际影视传媒渉onestly scared,SA国际影视传媒� by the close call.

He wrote the near miss showed him how SA国际影视传媒渧ulnerable we are in the community,SA国际影视传媒� and that the incident forced him to be more aware when out in public. The Mountie stated he understands crimes against police arenSA国际影视传媒檛 taken as seriously because officers SA国际影视传媒渟igned up for it.SA国际影视传媒�

The wreck led to EliasSA国际影视传媒� arrest, who was charged with dangerous driving and driving while impaired after he failed a breath sample.

Elias was initially charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, but the charge was later stayed by the Crown, even though Elias had previously pleaded guilty to the charge. But with no way to prove he intended to hit the officer with the weapon - the snowmobile - the charge was stayed.

Emphasizing the officerSA国际影视传媒檚 statement, Crown prosecutor Andreas Kuntz said EliasSA国际影视传媒� driving was so reckless that it caused a stress-trained officer to feel it necessary to bring the matter to court. SA国际影视传媒淭hat speaks to the gravity of the incident,SA国际影视传媒� said Kuntz.

Elias, whose lengthy criminal record didnSA国际影视传媒檛 include any prior driving offences, was handed four months in jail for the dangerous driving incident by Judge Christine Gagnon.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is an example of where conduct crosses the line and requires strong denunciation through a sentence of imprisonment,SA国际影视传媒� said Gagnon.

During the same hearing in NWT territorial court last Monday, Elias was also sentenced for a string of conditional breaches - including curfew and no contact violations - stemming from prior convictions. Sentences for the breaches, which spanned from November to February of this year, added up to a seven-month sentence for Elias in total.

EliasSA国际影视传媒� lawyer Nicola Langille noted numerous Gladue factors - considerations of Indigenous offendersSA国际影视传媒� backgrounds - at play, including her clientSA国际影视传媒檚 struggles with alcohol abuse and tragedies heSA国际影视传媒檚 faced. She said Elias held no ill will against police officers and understands theySA国际影视传媒檙e just doing their jobs.

With credit for time already served amounting to almost six months, Elias will spend 31 more days behind bars. Following his release, heSA国际影视传媒檒l be on probation for one-year and will face an 18-month driving ban.