Man pleads not guilty to standoff charges

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on September 8, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The case of a Lethbridge man arrested following a standoff with police in June was in Lethbridge court of justice Thursday and not guilty pleas were entered for all his matters.
Calgary lawyer Shaun Leochko was in court to speak on behalf of his client Logan Conrad Drake, 31, who faces numerous charges in relation to barricading himself inside a northside home earlier this year, to enter not guilty pleas to all of his charges.
Drake’s charges include failure to comply with release conditions and resisting a peace officer. The charges stem from an incident which began about 8 a.m. on June 6 when a man with outstanding warrants relating to a domestic assault, barricaded himself inside a northside home and refused to leave.
Following numerous attempts by police to convince the man to leave the residence, officers with the Critical Incident Team were deployed and, when additional attempts to negotiate with the suspect failed, they tossed in a gas canister, which forced the man from the house, and he was arrested.
Several blocks along 13 Street North near 19 Avenue were closed for several hours as police tried to lure the man from the home. Police tried to contact him numerous times with a megaphone, informing him he was under arrest and telling him to exit the home. Police also tried to convince the man to use a phone sent in by a robot.
Drake also faces unrelated charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, assault, resisting a peace officer, possession of break-in tools, drug possession, obstructing a peace officer, and driving while prohibited.
Drake’s matters will be dealt by four different judges during four separate trials, which dates will be set on Sept. 11 at the Case Management Office.  
In relation to the failure to comply with release conditions and resisting a peace officer charges, the Crown estimated the trial will take three hours.
In relation to the charges of possession of stolen property over $5,000, resisting a peace officer, possession of break-in tools, drug possession, obstructing a peace officer, and driving while prohibited, the Crown estimated the trial will take five hours.
In relation to the assault charges which also include resisting a peace officer, the Crown expects the trial to take three hours.
And in relation to an additional charge of possession of stolen property over $5,000, the Crown estimated the trial will take three hours.
Drake is remanded in custody by consent.

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