Man charged in motorcycle collision has history of impaired driving

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This article was published 15/06/2023 (860 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 22-year-old man charged with impaired driving in a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured an off-duty Winnipeg police officer has been convicted two times for drunk driving in the past two years, court records show.

Braedon Lee Gordon was charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, being impaired within two hours of driving, and driving while prohibited after Wednesday’s collision.

Gordon, who is from Winnipeg, was held in custody.

“There’s (been) extensive police contact. He’s an individual we’re aware of,” police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said Thursday.

Last August, Gordon pleaded guilty to impaired driving and received a minimum sentence of four months in jail. Court heard Gordon was bound by two court orders prohibiting him from driving Dec. 21, 2021, when a passerby saw him behind the wheel of a vehicle stuck in a ditch in Charleswood and called police.

Crown attorney Steven Stadnyk said he agreed to recommend the minimum sentence because of “potential issues” with the case.

Gordon pleaded guilty to several additional breaches of court orders requiring he not drink, abide by a curfew and not possess weapons, and received a total sentence of nine months, the bulk of which he had served by the time he was sentenced.

“It is abundantly clear the accused does not follow court orders,” Stadnyk told provincial court Judge Robin Finlayson.

Defence lawyer Mat Schwartz said the nine-month sentence represented “a real opportunity” for his client to turn his life around.

“He just can’t be in a motor vehicle if he is consuming alcohol,” Schwartz said.

“He’s just going to get caught eventually, and I think he knows that,” Finlayson replied.

Finlayson prohibited Gordon from driving for three years, and urged him to seek addictions treatment. “Whether you go now, or you go later, it is something you need.”

In September 2021, Gordon was sentenced to a total of seven months in jail after he was caught drunk behind the wheel of a stolen car and in possession of a weapon.

In November 2019, Gordon, then 19, was sentenced to 19 months in jail for a pair of assaults and several breaches of court orders.

Gordon was at Johnny G’s restaurant on Main Street, sitting in a booth with known gang member Anthony Cromastey on Feb. 6, 2019, when another man from the same gang, Rodney Kirton, approached Cromastey. The two men pulled out guns and shot each other.

Gordon was charged with assault causing bodily harm, after surveillance video showed him kicking and stomping on Kirton’s head seven times after he had been shot.

Kirton and Cromastey both died at the scene.

Gordon had been released on bail for just two weeks when he was arrested May 4, 2019, after he and another man assaulted staff who had tried to stop them from leaving an Arlington Street bar with their drinks.

In Wednesday’s crash, a 50-year-old motorcyclist was headed westbound on Talbot Avenue at about 6 a.m., when an oncoming Dodge Caravan minivan turned north onto Levis Street, cutting in front of the bike, said police.

The van was travelling a short distance behind a pickup truck when it made the left turn, and the motorcyclist had no time to stop, according to a source.

The bike slammed into the front right corner of the Caravan, throwing the motorcyclist off his Kawasaki bike.

He was taken to hospital in unstable condition and later upgraded to stable.

“Unfortunately, for the male, they are serious (injuries), and there’s no question he’s got a long road ahead for his recovery,” said Michalyshen. “It’s a difficult time for him and his family. We’re certainly thinking of him.”

Sources told the Free Press the motorcyclist was an off-duty constable who was commuting to work, but police would not confirm.

He underwent surgery for internal injuries, including at least one significant fracture, sources said.

A witness told the Free Press she looked outside after being awakened by the crash, and saw two men — one holding a beer in his hand — leaving on foot.

A third man was standing near the motorcyclist, who was down on the road, said the woman, who declined to give her name.

She said the rider appeared to be conscious, but he wasn’t saying anything and seemed to be in shock.

Michalyshen said the rider was wearing a helmet when the vehicles collided, but it came off after the impact.

The other man was chased by a firefighter when he left the scene a short time later, the witness said.

Police confirmed the minivan’s driver and two passengers left the scene.

Three men were arrested in the area a short time later.

At least two were arrested in the Silver Lion Apartments, at the corner of Talbot and Levis, according to residents.

After the crash, the white minivan was parked against a curb on Levis, with damage to its front right side and a shattered windshield.

Two on-duty officers suffered serious injuries when their marked cruiser and a stolen pickup truck collided June 7 at Main Street and Belmont Avenue in West Kildonan.

The officers have since been released from hospital and are recovering at home, said Michalyshen.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca