A P.E.I. man who was aggressive with police and had to be Tasered after causing a head-on collision was sentenced recently to seven days in jail for refusing to provide a breath sample.
Cody Matthew Ellsworth, 21, appeared before Chief Judge Nancy Orr in provincial court in Charlottetown where he entered a guilty plea.
Reading from an agreed statement of facts, Crown attorney Nathan Beck told the court that on Jan. 29 at around 9 p.m., Ellsworth was driving in Charlottetown when he hit another vehicle head on.
A 75-year-old woman was driving the other vehicle, and she reported being in a daze after the collision.
The court heard tire tracks showed Ellsworth’s vehicle crossed into the other lane. There was significant damage to both vehicles.
Beck said a witness reported opening Ellsworth’s door after the collision. He was unresponsive at first but later became aggressive once he came to.
The police had to use a Taser on Ellsworth because he was so aggressive, Beck said, adding he was later taken to hospital to have prongs from the device removed.
Beck said that when the police took Ellsworth to the station, he refused to give breath samples.
Along with the jail time, Ellsworth must pay a $2,000 fine and a $600 victim surcharge.
He is also banned from driving for one year.
