Yellowknife (May 09/03) - A man who led police on a high-speed chase from downtown to Dettah while drunk was given 90 days in jail in territorial court Tuesday.

On Feb. 8, police spotted Mark Rocher standing next to a truck on 50th street just after bar close. He seemed intoxicated and police told him not to drive. Soon after, they noticed the truck was moving, said Crown prosecutor Sadie Bond.

Police tried to pull Rocher over, but he sped through a school zone and then headed down the hill on 44th Street. He lost control, said Bond, and side-swiped a guard rail. He continued on towards Old Town, driving 90 km/h in a 50 km/h zone and turned on to the ice road.

By the time, three cop cars were chasing him and he was driving 110 km/h. For part of the chase, Rocher turned his headlights off. Just before he reached Dettah, Rocher stopped and changed direction. He drove for some distance and then stopped for good.

Over the loudspeaker, police asked the two people in the truck to come out. They didn't. Finally, police dragged Rocher out of the truck.

He provided a breath sample which was unsuitable, said Bond. His next sample was three times the legal limit. After that, he refused to provide any more samples.

Rocher pleaded guilty to fleeing from a police officer and not providing a breath sample. Two other charges were withdrawn.

Bond asked for four to six months jail time and a two to three year driving prohibition.

"This kind of behaviour is extremely dangerous," she said. "Mr. Rocher is lucky no one was hurt."

Rocher's lawyer, Robert Gorin, said the man doesn't think he hit the guard rail.

Gorin also said: "The person who was with him thought he looked fine to drive."

Rocher, who is now seeing an alcohol counsellor, will likely lose his job because of the charges, said Gorin, but has some other job prospects. Gorin asked for a sentence that would allow Rocher to continue to support his family by working.

Rocher has a criminal record, although most of it is at least 10 years old. Judge J.F. Arsenault sentenced the man to 90 days in jail -- to be served on weekends.