VOL. 68 NO. 39
65 YEARS OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2015
Johnson given 12 years for shootout Michael Simpson Editor One year and ten months to the day after a violent encounter with police, Michael Johnson stood before a judge in Vegreville court and received a 12-year sentence for his actions. The incident occurred northwest of Tofield, the climax of a day’s worth of cat and mouse between Johnson and police after he was spotted attempting to steal guns from a rural property while driving a stolen pickup truck. While conducting a search at a farmhouse, police spotted Johnson’s pickup truck and attempted to take him into custody. Johnson was able to get to his truck, running down Vegreville RCMP Cpl. Travis Ogilvie as the officer tried to stop him. Johnson got his pickup stuck in a snow bank and opened fire on police, including Ogilvie who lay wounded on the ground. Johnson grazed RCMP Two Hills Constable Adam Rayner in the arm with a bullet, and was shot in both arms by police in the exchange. After several more hours in the cold, he surrendered to police and was transported to the hospital to be treated for his wounds. On the Oct. 6, 2015 day of his sentencing, Johnson apologized to the communities and people effected by his actions while he was “not functioning with a clean and sober mind. To the families and members of the RCMP, words cannot express how I feel,” Johnson said. He described himself as a generally respectful and law abiding man who made yearly donations to the Big Brothers
program. He was supported by letters of character from his girlfriend, his priest, and his grandparents. His lawyer described him as a model inmate who has since spent his time mentoring other inmates at a boot camp program offered through corrections, working in the prison laundry, and undertaking every type of rehabilitation program available, including bible studies, anger management training, addictions relapse prevention courses, all with above-average grades. The people in Johnson’s corner all agreed that when not on drugs, he was a contributing member of society who cared for his family and friends. Johnson conceded that he was standing before the judge as a result of his “embarrassing” actions and a drug habit he’d been using to cope with depression following a divorce. He admitted he’d made poor choices, and acknowledged those consequences were now having an impact on his family. Judge Pahl admitted just before he handed down Johnson’s sentence that he was impressed with Johnson’s presentation and conduct. He advised Johnson not to leave the courtroom totally discouraged after sentencing, as he appeared sincere in his desire to rehabilitate. His words of encouragement delivered, the judge then made it clear that Johnson’s actions in custody were “too little, too late” to have a major impact on his sentence, particularly when set against a lengthy criminal record that began in 1998, including charges of assault, theft, obstruction, resisting CONTINUED TO PAGE 7
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