CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A New Haven woman who fled the police three times in two days was sentenced recently to more than seven months in jail on a string of charges.
Alicia Sheila Miller, 32, appeared before Judge John Douglas in provincial court in Charlottetown for sentencing on several charges that included two counts of fleeing the police, two counts of possessing a stolen licence plate and two counts of theft.
Crown attorney John Diamond told the court that on May 23 a Charlottetown police officer tried to pull Miller over because the vehicle she was driving had a stolen licence plate.
Diamond said Miller fled and the officer followed but stopped when it became unsafe to continue chasing her.
Several hours later, an officer tried pulling Miller over again but eventually stopped because her driving was making it unsafe to continue the pursuit.
Diamond said Miller was seen again the next day, and an officer in an unmarked vehicle tried to block her from driving away.
Miller still sped away and, once again, officers didn't pursue because it wasn’t safe to do so due to heavy traffic.
Eventually the police arrested Miller when she reported to jail to serve a weekend sentence on other matters, Diamond said.
He told the court Miller said the licence plate was on the vehicle when she bought it and she fled because she was on Percocets at the time.
“I do understand it could have been a lot worse."
-Alicia Sheila Miller
Miller was also in court for stealing items worth a total of $658.36 from Shoppers Drug Mart, including perfume, and $68.98 worth of items from Gap.
Defence lawyer Alex Dalton told the court substance abuse was the underlying issue for Miller, she has sought treatment and the incidents of fleeing the police were her first slips.
Dalton said Miller was embarrassed and not proud of her actions.
Before hearing her sentence, Miller addressed the court to apologize.
“I do understand it could have been a lot worse,” she said.
Douglas told Miller that when he sentenced her in May on several matters, he adjourned sentencing on most of the charges to see how she would do.
He also said he didn’t think fleeing the police was related to drug addiction.
“It’s just total flagrant ignoring the safety of others,” he said.
Douglas sentenced Miller to a total of 7.5 months in jail, which he reduced by one month after credit for time spent in custody since her arrest.
Miller will be on probation for two years and will be under a two-year driving prohibition.
