THUNDER BAY - A man who was arrested for reaching for the gun of a Thunder Bay police officer conducting a wellness check on him last month will serve six months in custody, court heard on Thursday.
Solomon Yellowhead, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to take the service pistol of a police officer in connection to a June 22 incident.
Provincial Crown counsel Natasha Jerome told the court on Thursday, July 30, police attended an Arthur Street East residence in late June in response to a Mental Health Act call.
Yellowhead’s probation officer had called police stating he had concerns for his client’s wellbeing after speaking with him earlier that day, Jerome said.
When police attended, one officer spoke with Yellowhead and another officer spoke with his parents. The officer speaking with his parents heard a commotion from the other room and learned Yellowhead had punched the officer in the shoulder.
When the two police officers went to arrest Yellowhead, he resisted and pulled away and grabbed one of the police officer’s firearm by the pistol grip. The magazine release button was hit and the magazine dislodged from the firearm and fell out, court heard.
Yellowhead’s lawyer, Kate Brindley, said the firearm never discharged during the incident.
A joint submission was endorsed by Judge Sarah S. Cleghorn but not without warning Yellowhead of the severity of his actions.
“You are very, very lucky this is a joint submission because this is not the sentence I would have imposed on you,” Cleghorn said.
She also acknowledged Yellowhead’s mental health and addiction issues which were brought up by his lawyer as well as his lengthy criminal record. Cleghorn suggested Yellowhead begin to take action in his life to avoid spending more time in custody.
“It is clear to me that you are a real risk to society,” she said. “Right now you are just going in and out of jail.”
Yellowhead was granted credit for the time he has served in pre-sentence custody. Going forward he has 121 days left to serve in jail.
After his custodial sentence, he will remain on a lengthy court-ordered probation term that had previously been imposed and will help Yellowhead with rehabilitation.
He also faces a lifetime weapons prohibition.
