Threats lead to counselling order and suspended sentence

By Delon Shurtz on October 21, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

A Lethbridge man has been ordered to take counselling for substance abuse and anger management for threatening to kill police officers and their families.
Patrick Rodney Jr., who pleaded guilty Monday in Lethbridge provincial court to two charges of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, was also given a suspended sentence and placed on probation for 15 months.
Court was told that on Dec. 29 of last year, Rodney, 32, was in Standoff without a required permit, and was given a warning by police. The following day he posted a video on Facebook and said he will execute any officer and kill the family of any officer who attempts to arrest him.
A few days later Rodney called the Public Safety Communications Centre and said he would kill any police officer who sees him on the street. During a second call to the PSCC, he threatened to kill the dispatcher and members of his family.
Defence lawyer Brad Kraus told Judge Jerry LeGrandeur he spoke to Rodney about his inappropriate behaviour and was assured it will never happen again. He added Rodney will also be careful about what he posts on social media.
Kraus explained Rodney developed animosity toward police some years ago when they became physical with him in Manitoba, after he was mistakenly identified as a suspect in an investigation.
During his probation, Rodney is not to contact police or an emergency line unless the calls are for a legitimate emergency or other police matter. He is not to possess any weapons, and he is to be assessed and take counseling as directed. He must also pay a $200 victim fine surcharge.

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