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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Boozy night out, lying cost city man big bucks

By: Mike McIntyre

Posted: 05/16/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Talk about a wicked hangover: A night out at the bar with friends ended up costing a Winnipeg man more than $62,000.

That's the total loss suffered by Parry Shymkiw, who got into a post-party traffic accident and then made a bad situation worse by fleeing the scene and bribing two friends into giving him a bogus alibi.

Shymkiw pleaded guilty this week to a charge of making a false statement under the Highway Traffic Act for his actions stemming from the November 2007 incident. He was given a $1,500 fine in addition to being on the hook for $59,771.83 in total damages as a result of his deceptive ways.

Shymkiw's troubles began when he went to the Green Brier Inn on Main Street to socialize with several friends. At closing time, Shymkiw invited his group to join him back at his home to keep the night alive. It was just after 6 a.m. when everyone finally went home and Shymkiw drove one of his guests.

An off-duty Winnipeg police officer on her way into work that morning spotted his 1997 GMC Jimmy sideswipe another vehicle before crashing into the front of a building in the 1300 block of Main Street, causing extensive damage to both his vehicle and the store he hit.

Shymkiw immediately fled the scene on foot while the officer was checking to ensure the driver of the sideswiped car wasn't injured. The officer tried to chase after him but quickly lost him in the residential area. However, police didn't have to look far to find him after they checked the vehicle registration and realized Shymkiw only lived a block away.

Police went to his home, where they found him drinking a beer. Upon being told his car was in a major crash, Shymkiw feigned surprise and claimed he wasn't involved. He said the vehicle had been stolen overnight and he hadn't yet had an opportunity to report it. He rejected suggestions he was behind the wheel, even after the female officer picked him out of a photo lineup.

Shymkiw then dug his hole even deeper when he got two of his party guests to provide written statements claiming they were still at his home, with him at the time of the crash so he couldn't possibly be involved. But the alibi fell apart when one of the friends broke down and confessed the true story, claiming Shymkiw offered her money in exchange for her co-operation.

Shymkiw's vehicle and the one he struck were both written off, and the building sustained major damage. Shymkiw is now on the hook for all of it, along with court costs, because of his trail of lies.

He has agreed to a promissory note with Manitoba Public Insurance that includes a payment plan.

www.mikeoncrime.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 16, 2012 B4

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