The man accused of stealing a police car in Vancouver on Oct. 6 has fired yet another lawyer.
Dustin Walter Tallio is charged with theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to stop causing bodily harm, and flight from police.
In a video shared with Glacier Media, a Vancouver Police Department (VPD) cruiser can be seen driving in circles near a busy playground around 11 a.m.
Tallio has already made multiple court appearances. During several appearances, he rejected having a lawyer and said he'd represent himself.
By Oct. 10, he was telling hearings he’d spent enough time in jail and should be released.
“I’ve been in custody long enough,” he told Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Harbans Dhillon, who heard the Crown would seek Tallio’s detention.
On Oct. 11, Tallio continued saying he should be released and threatened self-harm.
The next lawyer went to see him and was also waved off.
As the case bounced between courtrooms that day, another lawyer went into the cells to speak with Tallio. That lawyer asked Judge Dawn Boblin for the case to be adjourned.
After hearing from defence lawyer Sandra Mandanici and Crown prosecutor Catherine Bright, Boblin rejected Tallio’s application for bail on Oct. 22, meaning he remains in custody.
When he appeared by video on Nov. 20, Mandanici was there to represent him.
Mandanici told Judge Laura Bakan she was waiting to hear the prosecution’s position on the case.
“No, no,” interrupted Tallio. “I told you I don’t want you representing me anymore.”
“No, you didn’t,” Mandanici responded.
The lawyer told Bakan Tallio has been approved for legal aid.
The case returns to court Nov. 25.
“I need it. The sooner the better,” Tallio said before the screen was shut off.
The court has heard fitness to stand trial might be an issue.
What happened?
Robert Farr was walking his dog around Vancouver's Templeton Park when he spotted a police vehicle driving at an excessive speed nearby.
"I saw a VPD SUV speeding through a block over,” he said. "It ramped over speed bumps and jumped a curb into the new running track and field by the kids' playground.”
Sgt. Steve Addison said before the incident officers were flagged down near East Hastings and Semolina Drive for a woman in distress at 10:45 a.m.
As police officers stepped out of the vehicle to assist the woman, a person got into the driver’s seat. The man stole the police vehicle and drove it toward a group of families at Templeton Park.
Police say the person drove up on the grass field, near where young families were gathering at a playground and where kids were playing soccer.
Caregivers in the area gathered all the children quickly and were helped by staff at the nearby community centre.
Police officers were on scene three minutes after the car was stolen.
A K9 officer with the VPD can be seen driving to the park and dealing with the vehicle. The police dog and officer arrested the man while other police officers arrived.
Addison said one person was injured during the incident and was nearly struck head-on by the vehicle. He suffered minor injuries and went to the hospital.
The suspect was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
John Turner, an early lawyer who attempted to help Tallio, told the judge that the man had been bitten by a dog.
With files from Alanna Kelly
Video produced by Alanna Kelly
