No bail after fleeing cops

A 32-year-old man who evaded arrest in West Kelowna for several weeks this spring, even having an officer shoot at him outside the West Kelowna Walmart, will remain in custody, after he was denied bail Thursday.

Dayton McAlpine is facing a slew of charges dating back to February, including three counts of flight from police, until he was arrested in West Kelowna on June 11.  

While he's alleged to have engaged in several high-risk flights from police in May and June, the most high-profile of the several incidents occurred on June 1 in the parking lot of the West Kelowna Walmart.

Just before 4 p.m., an employee at the store called police to tell them McAlpine, who was wanted on a province-wide warrant for theft, was inside the store.

When police arrived, they spotted who they believed to be McAlpine leaving in a green Ford F-150. When they attempted to stop the truck, the driver rammed two police vehicles and another parked SUV. The SUV had two children inside at the time.

At one point, the truck drove towards one of the officers, and a second officer shot his gun at the drivers' side window, but missed. No one was injured. 

Police did not pursue the truck, but it was later spotted overtaking vehicles on Westside Road.

While he was spotted again on June 9 near Glencoe and Elliot roads, McAlpine allegedly fled from police again in a different truck. He was finally arrested two days later on West Kelowna's Douglas Road.

He also faces assault and uttering threats charges from February and a charge of theft under $5,000 from March. He was on probation from a prior conviction during all of the recent alleged offences. 

During his bail hearing Thursday, McAlpine's lawyer Tiffany Zanatta said her client's 61 prior convictions, including 28 for breaching court orders, are a product of his addiction issues with crystal meth and heroin. She said if he was released on bail, he would live at New Vision Supportive Housing Society in Surrey, where he's already been accepted. 

“When I get sober, I do positive things with my life. So, if I can get released into somewhat of a structured program and treatment, I will be able to continue the right way of thinking I am now,” McAlpine told court Thursday. “I feel if I can address this issue, I won't be back before you.”

Ultimately, Justice Lisa Wyatt decided McAlpine's “blatant disregard for prior court orders” gave her no confidence that he would comply with any future bail conditions, and his bail was denied. He'll be back in court on Aug. 22.