An Ontario man will be getting comfortable in the passenger seat after a high-speed chase with police netted him a 30-month driving ban and six months in jail.
Robyn E. Schonauer pleaded guilty in St. Albert court on Monday to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle while disqualified and assaulting a peace officer/resisting arrest. He appeared in court via closed-circuit television from the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre.
St. Albert RCMP officers were monitoring traffic at Mission Avenue and Perron Street just after 9 p.m. on Aug. 6, when they spotted a black and yellow motorcycle that did not stop at a stop sign before making a left hand turn.
The motorcycle accelerated between 80 and 100 kilometres per hour and turned right onto Mount Royal Drive – a 50-km/h zone – almost colliding with another vehicle. Police tried to stop the motorcycle in the parking lot of a seniors’ complex but the driver sped away, ignoring stop signs and again nearly colliding with other vehicles.
RCMP lost sight of the motorcycle and its driver, but were called to a house nearby minutes later. Schonauer, who identified himself as “Rob,” told the owner of the residence his motorcycle had broken down and asked if he could store the bike in the man’s yard.
The complainant noticed the bike’s licence plate had been removed.
Ten minutes later, Schonauer returned for his bike. He fled before police could arrest him.
Around 3 a.m., RCMP found Schonauer at a gas station, recognizing him and his bike from earlier that evening.
When the 27-year-old noticed the RCMP officers he tried to reverse his motorcycle into the police cruiser. Officers grabbed his arm, resulting in a wrestling match between Schonauer and two officers.
Schonanuer was able to escape and ran. He was eventually arrested hiding in a bush.
Defence counsel described the incident as “a series of poor decisions.” Schonauer had gone to the seniors’ complex to “assist a friend” and was late, he explained.
Police determined Schonauer had purchased the motorcycle in March, but was prohibited from operating a motor vehicle after an incident in Ontario in 2013.
In 2009, the 27-year-old was sentenced to 90 days in jail for dangerous driving.
Since it was his second dangerous driving conviction, the Crown sought a four-to six-month jail term and a two-and-half year driving prohibition.
Defence counsel asked the court to consider a shorter sentence since Schonauer’s girlfriend is expecting their first child early next year.
“I’m really sorry for wasting the court’s time,” said Schonauer.
Judge Bruce Garriock sentenced Schonauer to six months in jail and two driving prohibitions – the first 18 months and the second 12 months to be served consecutively.
