Accused in Esso incident seeks bail
Article content
A woman charged in a dramatic incident involving police gunfire at the Esso station on Regent Street in mid-April could be headed to a special bail hearing in the near future.
Stacey Schneller, 27, was in a four-wheel-drive pickup along with Quinn Campbell, 22, when the two were arrested April 10.
Campbell was injured when a member of Greater Sudbury Police discharged a firearm, necessitating an investigation by the Special Investigations Unit, the province’s police watchdog.
Schneller appeared in video bail remand court Thursday and had a return date of Nov. 7 set.
The woman’s lawyer, Robert Beckett, told the court that the week will allow himself and the Crown to “canvass a date for a special bail hearing.”
At least half a day of court time is expected to be needed for the bail hearing.
In the meantime, Beckett will visit the Sudbury Jail in the next few days to meet with Schneller.
Schneller, who is from southern Ontario, is facing charges of dangerous driving, assault with a weapon, possession of stolen property, and two counts of breach of probation.
Back on Sept. 20, Beckett indicated that a trial date for Schneller would be set on the next video bail remand court date (Oct. 31). That did not happen Thursday.
Beckett also indicated that a new charge is expected to be laid against his client concerning an alleged assault at the Sudbury Jail in mid-July.
In late July, a judicial pre-trial meeting – a closed-door meeting involving a judge, member of the Crown’s office and a defence lawyer to discuss issues in a case – was held concerning Schneller’s charges.
An agent for Campbell’s lawyer, Denis Michel, meanwhile, said on Sept. 20 that Michel is awaiting further disclosure in conjunction with a witness list from the Crown, as well as the Special Investigations Unit report concerning the incident.
Campbell appeared before the camera in video bail remand court that day on crutches. As a consequence, he was scheduled to see a doctor concerning his left foot.
Campbell’s next court date, incidentally, is in the Ontario Court of Justice Dec. 2 at which time a motion will be dealt with.
Campbell, who has no fixed address, is charged with nine offences including possession of stolen property over $5,000, assault with a weapon (the truck), dangerous driving, careless use of a firearm (shotgun), possession of a firearm (shotgun) without a licence, and possession of a weapon (shotgun) for a dangerous purpose.
The SIU continues to investigate the incident, as is required whenever someone is injured as a result of a police response.
“While in the parking lot, there was an interaction with a man,” the SIU said in a release earlier this year.
One Greater Sudbury Police officer “discharged his firearm, and the man was struck,” the release stated. “He was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.”
The Esso station was cordoned off with police tape the following day and the white truck, splattered in blood, could be seen in the lot. Members of the SIU and Greater Sudbury Police, meanwhile, marked evidence around it with yellow cones.
Blood was visible on the driver’s seat and the rocker panel below the door, as well as on the pavement below. The passenger window was blown out and there were several holes, seemingly caused by bullets, in the rear window of the truck.
In a release, Greater Sudbury Police said officers “received information from another jurisdiction that an individual believed to be responsible for an armed robbery was en route to Greater Sudbury.”
The SIU said OPP officers were also at the scene assisting the city police when the incident occurred.
Shortly after 10:45 p.m., officers “observed the vehicle parked at a gas station on Regent Street,” GSPS said. “Officers attempted to effect an arrest and a 22-year-old man was injured in the process, requiring him to be transported to hospital.”
Because of the man’s injuries, the SIU invoked its mandate in the case. Greater Sudbury Police said that under the Police Services Act, “we are prohibited from releasing any additional information regarding the incident.”
The SIU is an arm’s-length provincial agency that investigates incidents involving police that result in serious injury, death, or include allegations of sexual assault.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.