An impaired, prohibited driver behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle was involved in a police pursuit after a collision that injured another person on a June afternoon last year in Wawa.
When the cops caught up with Bryan Shorey, they found he had a firearm and ammunition in the 2017 Dodge, a judge heard Thursday in a Sault Ste. Marie courtroom.
He pleaded guilty to 11 charges stemming from his actions on June 22, 2023.
Shorey, 25, was convicted of over 80, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, theft, two counts of driving while prohibited, and failing to stop when pursued by police.
As well, he was found guilty of five offences involving the 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition.
Ontario Court Justice Melanie Dunn heard officers with the Superior East detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police responded to a call at 1:30 p.m. about a two-vehicle collision on Mission Road.
The driver of a black Dodge involved in the crash, failed to remain, but a licence plate from that vehicle was found at the scene, prosecutor Gary Knox said.
The vehicle had been reported stolen earlier that day, between noon and 1 p.m., by the owner, who indicated Storey was travelling to his camp at Hawk Lake.
As officers were searching for Shorey, they received reports about a vehicle heading towards Hawk Junction that had left the road and was driving along a snowmobile trail.
The cops made their way along the trail, where they discovered the Dodge with a heavily damaged front end, Knox said.
Shorey, wearing only boxer shorts, was slumped over the steering wheel. He was arrested, the assistant Crown attorney said.
A loaded, 12-gauge shotgun was in plain view in the back seat.
The firearm didn't have a trigger guard, wasn't in a case, and the accused had ammunition.
Shorey also had a strong odour of alcohol, Knox told the judge.
When he was taken to the OPP detachment in Wawa, he provided two breath samples, both of which recorded readings of 140 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
At the request of defence lawyer Eric McCooeye, sentencing was put over so the judge could receive pre-sentence and Gladue reports.
The sentencing will take place Sept. 10 at the Wawa courthouse.