Skip to content

Drug trafficker pleads guilty to smashing stolen pickup into two cop cars

40-year-old back in court next month to set date for sentencing hearing
160302courthouseMP1010
The Sault Ste. Marie Courthouse is pictured in this file photo. Michael Purvis/SooToday

Shawn Reedy struck a parked truck and two police vehicles in the city's west end as he tried to evade the cops in the fall of 2021.

He was behind the wheel of a stolen pickup, and as Superior Court Justice Edward Gareau heard Monday, also had several baggies containing narcotics in a backpack and $1,700 in his pockets.

The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to seven charges, including two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl and cocaine).

Reedy faced a third count of possessing crystal meth for the purpose of trafficking, but the Crown accepted a plea to a charge of simple possession.

He also was convicted of possession of a stolen 2013 GMC Sierra truck, dangerous driving, possession of currency obtained by crime, and breach of probation.

All the offences stemmed from the same incident on Oct. 28, 2021.

City police spotted the pickup in the area of Cathcart and Beverly streets just before 1 a.m., court heard.

The driver attempted to go around a police cruiser and hit a truck parked in a driveway, federal prosecutor Ben Pritchard said.

He put the pickup in reverse, backed into an Emergency Services Unit vehicle, and then drove forward striking another Sault Police vehicle.

One of the officers told Reedy to show his hands.

He had a hatchet and didn't comply, Pritchard said.

The officer also noticed he had a black bag on his lap, pulled him from the driver's seat, and the bag fell out of the truck.

Reedy was arrested for theft over $5,000.

During a search, officers turned up narcotics, $1,700 in cash in his pockets and a knife.

They also found cell phones, a hatchet and a black backpack containing several substances in the pickup.

Pritchard told the court that 40.59 grams of fentanyl, 35.27 grams of meth and 44.34 grams of cocaine were located in the vehicle.

Defence lawyer Eric McCooeye requested that sentencing be put over so pre-sentence and Gladue reports can be prepared for the court.

Gareau agreed. The lawyers will be back in court on April 10 to set a date for sentencing.



About the Author: Linda Richardson

Linda Richardson is a freelance journalist who has been covering Sault Ste. Marie's courts and other local news for more than 45 years.
Read more