Crime and court Briefs
Teenager mugged near trail, says mom
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, April 16, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A 14-year-old boy was allegedly mugged Sunday night on Gitzel Street, near the entrance to the McMahon Frame Lake Trail.
The boy's mother, Tanya Silke, said her son was attacked from behind by two youth who choked him, leaving his neck bruised.
Afterwards, the youth stole the boy's wallet, which had $100 in cash inside.
"(My son) just passed it right over to them when they were choking him," Silke said, applauding her son's good sense in dealing with the potentially dangerous attackers.
Yellowknife RCMP confirmed they have a file open on the case, but aren't releasing any information on the suspects yet.
Silke said the suspects are 16 to 17 years old, aboriginal, with dark hair.
She added one of them had a red and black hat on with red sunglasses. The other was wearing a black sweater or jacket.
The Frame Lake Trail is normally out-of-bounds for Silke's children. She says she has issues with the security of the trail.
"I have felt scared. There's a lack of lighting, and a lot of people are scared to go on the trail so there's never a lot of people there," Silke said.
Even though her son was with two friends at the time, Silke said the group was still vulnerable to attack.
"Kids should just stay off the trail. Stay on the streets where there's lights and people and vehicle traffic."
Anyone with information on the case should contact Yellowknife RCMP or Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous.
Pedestrian struck on Franklin Ave
Yellowknife RCMP say an intoxicated man who was hit by a vehicle downtown on April 5 is OK.
The man allegedly stepped out in front of a vehicle on Franklin Avenue, in front of Sutherland Drugs. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution but appeared to have only suffered minor injuries.
RCMP confirmed they've laid no charges in the incident.
Sentence delayed in handgun case
A man charged with numerous firearms offences after he allegedly brandished a handgun around numerous downtown locations in March 2013 had his sentence hearing delayed on Monday.
Joshua Petten, 22, was ready to be sentenced in Supreme Court on Monday, but his lawyer was stuck in Rankin Inlet as the result of a blizzard, the court heard.
Petten is charged with possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, possessing a loaded and restricted firearm and obstructing justice.
The charges against Petten are serious - the minimum sentence for possessing a loaded and restricted firearm is three years in prison.
Petten's sentencing hearing was rescheduled for May 6 in Supreme Court.
