Heather Polischuk, Regina, Sask. (Regina Leader-Post) – A Regina Mountie had his driver’s licence suspended for three years after pleading guilty to drunk driving twice within the same week.
“I’m sorry …,” Harry Edward Searle told Regina Provincial Court Judge Linton Smith following his sentencing on Tuesday. “I’m just grateful nobody was hurt.”
Searle, 38, is a member at F Division, the province’s RCMP headquarters based in Regina, according to an RCMP spokeswoman. He remains an active member at this time.
On Tuesday, defence lawyer Robert Skinner entered guilty pleas to two counts of impaired driving on behalf of his client, who sat quietly with head bowed in the front row.
The offences date back to September. Crown prosecutor Bill Campbell said that in the first incident, on Sept. 9, Searle’s driving was so bad that several drivers were nearly run off the road.
At about 5:40 p.m. on that date, police were notified about a suspected impaired driver on the Ring Road, with the driver of the vehicle almost sideswiping another vehicle at one point. The offending vehicle then nearly struck an overpass, and as it continued on its course, caused a number of drivers to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
A couple of drivers tailed the drunk driver, calling in information to the RCMP as the vehicle left Regina and made its way swervingly onto Highway 11. There, the vehicle continued to weave all over the road, occasionally moving part way into the left ditch and at other times almost striking other vehicles.
The impaired driver made his way to the Deer Valley Road. RCMP were able to track the vehicle to Searle’s residence a short time later, where his wife told officers her husband had just come home and was asleep in the basement. Campbell said police believed Searle had fallen down the stairs.
His readings at that time were .27, more than three times the legal limit.
Searle repeated the behaviour just six days later. A Lumsden RCMP member on patrol spotted a swerving vehicle on the Deer Valley Road and stopped it. Searle got out, but had trouble standing and walking. This time his readings came in at .23.
Searle, who had no previous criminal record, was released from police custody the next day. Although he was not ordered to avoid alcohol, he was ordered to stay away from bars, but Campbell noted Searle was seen outside a bar in December. Searle was also supposed to attend for addiction services, but didn’t follow through with some appointments.
Campbell referred to a pre-sentence report that found Searle has an alcohol problem, something of which the RCMP officer is aware. But Campbell said that doesn’t excuse Searle’s behaviour.
“We expect that police will be among those that most carefully follow the law themselves, and that did not happen,” the prosecutor said.
Skinner said his client has done well recently and noted he is a “very, very good police officer.” The lawyer added Searle’s occupation doesn’t make him immune to making the same mistakes as others.
“It happens to all people,” Skinner said. “Crown prosecutors, defence lawyers.”
“And judges,” added Smith.
Smith said that in sentencing Searle, he was taking into account several factors, including his “disregard for the law,” the fact the two offences took place within such a short period, his occupation and general and personal deterrence.
Smith agreed to impose a sentence proposed by Crown and defence lawyers that includes a $3,500 fine and 18 months probation. Among conditions of the probation is that Searle be assessed and take substance abuse treatment as directed. While Skinner had asked for a shorter driving prohibition, Smith agreed with the Crown that three years was appropriate.
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