Teen faces first-degree murder charge in officer’s death
OTTAWA — A 15-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 32-year-old police officer who was dragged to death while conducting a routine traffic stop early Tuesday morning.
Const. Garrett Styles, a seven-year veteran with York Regional Police, was struck by a vehicle — operated by the unlicensed teenage driver — on Highway 48 in the town of East Gwillimbury, Ont. at 4:50 a.m. Tuesday.
The teen, whose name will not be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was charged late Tuesday night in hospital where he remains in serious condition. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, killing a police officer with or without intent results in an automatic first-degree murder charge.
He was remanded into the custody of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services and is scheduled to appear in Newmarket, Ont. court on July 7...
...Styles pulled over a 2005 Dodge Caravan and was at the driver's side door when the vehicle accelerated. He was dragged approximately 300 metres through a field before the vehicle lost control and rolled over, pinning him beneath it. The officer was able to make an emergency call from his radio calling for a 10-33 — a code indicating emergency and assistance is needed.
In the chilling audio dispatch, Styles expressed the pain he was experiencing, with the van weighing heavy on his waist. But the 13-minute transcript also shows the officer reiterating his concern for the passengers in the van.
"I've got a van on my waist, I don't know . . . it hurts. And I've got some people inside the van. I don't know how they're doing," he can be heard saying.
Styles died of his injuries at 6:10 a.m. at Southlake Hospital in Newmarket. The four occupants in the car were all teens.
Tragic on many counts...the cops is dead and his family has lost a husband and father. This 15 year old is looking at 25 years to life and may have been injured himself in the crash.
I look back at the stupid way I used to drive (no comments from the peanut gallery please...compared to 30 years ago I'm a grandpa on the road...how the hell I didn't get killed amazes me to this day) I thank God I made it to 20.
God be with the Styles family...and that kid.
That was the nice and honest comment. God be with that cop and that kid. "That kid" is a friend of my kids and he is really sweet child; however stupid in his passion for cars...and drugs. You are right also that all of us are not angels ( and were not angels when we were kids ourselves). I hope the kid will recover. I don't care if he serves couple of years in jail, he was very stupid, but I pray to God he will recover...
ReplyDeleteThank you...hopefully the Constables' family can find it in them to forgive him...and God will also forgive him this sin. And let's pray God is with the family of the 15 year old to.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mike. Now I know our world is not that bad, if it has people like you. If you read other comments on some sites, you would've been shocked by how mean some individuals are.
ReplyDeleteThe family of that constable should be proud of him as he maybe saved lives of mine and other kids who used to get ride in that teen's car. On the other hand, the kid is injured so badly... See, the reality is so complex, there is no black and white colours only. God bless you for your prayer.