An Estevan man will be spending a year in jail after leading police on a high-speed chase around the Estevan area and slamming into the police cruiser at one point.
Kirk Szakacs caught police attention in December 2011 when he drove through a red light at the corner of King Street and Kensington Avenue and exited the city of Estevan driving north at speeds reaching 150 kilometres per hour.
Police attempted to pull him over, but were unable to do so, and he turned east, driving for another 15 to 20 minutes with pursuing officers in tow. Szakacs drove to Highway 18 and accelerated to 170 kilometres per hour.
He then attempted to turn onto a gravel side road but was travelling too fast. Szakacs tried to stop his vehicle with the emergency brake and struck a police vehicle on the passenger side.
Szakacs' vehicle entered the ditch. The Crown prosecutor noted there was some other traffic in the area at the time.
He then headed west at a high rate of speed. The police caught back up when they found the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road.
Members of the Estevan Police Service executed a high-risk takedown to apprehend Szakacs, who was now sitting in the backseat, while another male was sitting in the front passenger seat.
When he was arrested, Szakacs also provided two blood alcohol samples of 0.13 and 0.12. He was charged for impaired driving and pleaded guilty on Monday.
Szakacs pleaded guilty to a number of other charges in Estevan provincial court on Monday when he made an appearance in police custody. He also pleaded guilty to evading police, possession of property obtained by crime and uttering threats.
The threat charge stems from an incident in February 2012 when two women were stopped at a traffic light in Estevan. Szakacs pulled up behind their vehicle and exited his car to approach the womens' driver's side window.
He told the pair he would attack them, and when they drove away, he punched and kicked the driver's side window and door. The Crown called the incident a case of road rage, but did not identify any particular prior incident that may have inspired the outburst.
Szakacs also pleaded guilty after he was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle. He was arrested June 30 in Regina Beach, having been found driving the vehicle.
The Crown and defence presented a joint submission to presiding judge Ernie Bobowski, suggesting a jail term of one year would be appropriate. Szakacs has a previous record, including a previous impaired charge.
Szakacs did address the court, saying, "I'm sick and tired of running from the cops. I'm sick and tired of being a criminal. I'm ready to be a good citizen and a good father to my kids."
Bobowski accepted the joint submission, which included a one-year jail sentence and a two-year driving prohibition.
Bobowski said, however, that the penalty was on the very low end of the sentencing spectrum under the circumstances of these offences and warned Szakacs he may not find the same leniency if there are any other convictions in his future.
In other court proceedings, the City of Estevan's bylaw regarding U-turns brought some confusion both to an accused and the judge.
An Alberta man was summoned to Estevan provincial court for the bylaw ticket and pleaded guilty. He noted he was from Alberta, worked in Weyburn and was unaware he was making an illegal driving manoeuvre when he executed a U-turn on Fourth Street.
He told Bobowski there were no signs regarding the bylaw. Estevan Police Service sergeant Kevin Reed told the court there are no signs alerting drivers to the rule. He said it was an old bylaw, and he was unclear about the City's intention for it.
Bobowski said he had some concerns about the bylaw if there is no signage alerting those passing through the city of the local custom. There is no suggested fine in the bylaw, so Bobowski ordered a fine of $10.
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