The man accused of stealing a police car in Vancouver earlier this month was denied bail in Vancouver Provincial Court on Oct. 22.
Dustin Walter Tallio is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to stop causing bodily harm, and flight from police.
In a video shared with Glacier Media, a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) cruiser can be seen driving in circles near a busy playground on Oct. 6, around 11 a.m.
Tallio has already made several court appearances. Each time, he rejected having a lawyer and said .
By Oct. 10, he was telling hearings he’d spent enough time in jail and should be released.
“I’d like to be released now,” he told Judge Harbans Dhillon, who heard the Crown would seek Tallio’s detention.
“I’ve been in custody long enough,” Tallio said.
On Oct. 11, Tallio continued saying he should be released and threatened self-harm.
The next lawyer went to see him and was also waved off.
As the case bounced between courtrooms, another lawyer went into cells to speak with Tallio. That lawyer asked Judge Dawn Boblin for the case to be adjourned.
The court has heard fitness to stand trial might be an issue.
After hearing from defence lawyer Sandra Mandanici and Crown prosecutor Catherine Bright, Boblin rejected Tallio’s application for bail, meaning he will stay in custody.
Tallio appeared via video. After a few outbursts, Bobin had him muted.
The case returns to court on Oct. 30 to start setting dates for a trial.
What happened?
Robert Farr was walking his dog around Vancouver's Templeton Park when he spotted a police vehicle driving at an excessive speed nearby.
"I saw a VPD SUV speeding through a block over,” he said. "It ramped over speed bumps and jumped a curb into the new running track and field by the kids' playground.”
Sgt. Steve Addison said before the incident officers were flagged down near East Hastings and Semolina Drive for a woman in distress at 10:45 a.m.
As police officers stepped out of the vehicle to assist the woman, a person got into the driver’s seat. The man stole the police vehicle and drove it toward a group of families at Templeton Park.
Police say the person drove up on the grass field, near where young families were gathering at a playground and where kids were playing soccer.
Caregivers in the area gathered all the children quickly and were helped by staff at the nearby community centre.
Police officers were on scene three minutes after the car was stolen.
A K9 officer with the VPD can be seen driving to the park and dealing with the vehicle. The police dog and officer arrested the man while other police officers arrived.
Addison said one person was injured during the incident and was nearly struck head-on by the vehicle. He suffered minor injuries and went to the hospital.
The suspect was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
John Turner, an early lawyer who attempted to help Tallio, told the judge that the man had been bitten by a dog.
