One more chapter left

By Scott Neufeld Friday, November 10, 2006
Const. Frank Grenier was overcome with emotion as the verdict against Michael O’Brien was read in the Vernon Law Courts on Thursday.Justice Alison Beames read the verdict that O’Brien was guilty of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing injury. O’Brien had been seeking the lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death.The verdict came two years after Grenier was severely injured and Auxiliary Const. Glen Evely was killed, when a stolen truck ran a red light and slammed into their police cruiser. Beames said the cruiser sustained two impacts, once when it was hit by the truck and once when it crashed into a building. In reading her decision Beames said that after police called off their chase, O’Brien gestured at the crowd leaving two downtown bars and shouted as he sped by. Beames said O’Brien drove recklessly, sped around a corner and flew into the intersection virtually blind.“The collision caused critical injuries to Const. Grenier and caused the death of auxiliary Const. Evely,” she said. “(O’Brien) also demonstrated a wanton disregard for the lives and safety of other people.”O’Brien clad in blue jeans and a blue ski jacket, stared at the ground, often closing his eyes as the verdict was read. Looking on were about 30 members of the RCMP and many members of the Ministry of Forests, where Evely worked.Cpl. Henry Proce of the Vernon RCMP said the police are “pleased” with the verdict.“Both these families, the Evelys and the Greniers have gone through some profound and traumatic times,” he said. “I think this gives them a measure of closure.”Proce was on the scene that night and smashed through a window to try and stop O’Brien from driving away when he was stopped at a gas station. But O’Brien sped away despite Proce and another officer standing on the truck. Proce said he’ll always wonder what else he could have done.“It’s human nature to second guess your reaction,” he said.O’Brien will wait until 10 a.m. this morning to find out whether or not he will receive the maximum penalty of a life sentence. His lawyer William Mastop said after the verdict was read, that the circumstances of the crime would seem to merit a sentence of nine years.