Preliminary inquiry likely in fall for man suspected of dragging cop with car
A St. John’s man suspected of dragging a female police officer with a car following a break-in at Peter Easton’s Pub will have a preliminary inquiry scheduled for the fall.
Gordon Anthony Bishop appeared in provincial court in St. John’s via video link from Her Majesty’s Penitentiary Friday, his 31st birthday.
His lawyer, Michael Ralph, and Crown prosecutor Jeff Summers opted to work with court administrators to set a date. They said it would likely be October.
If a date can’t be ironed out, the case will come back to court July 31.
Ralph said Bishop elected to be tried by judge alone in Newfoundland Supreme Court.
Bishop — also known as Carew — was arrested Jan. 6, four days after the incident near the pub on Cookstown Road.
At 5:20 a.m. on Jan. 2, the RNC responded to an alarm at the bar. When officers arrived, they realized the suspect was still inside the building. The man managed to get out of the building and jump into a vehicle parked outside.
When an officer attempted to detain the suspect, the man drove off, dragging the officer until she managed to get free at the intersection of LeMarchant Road.
The injured officer was taken to hospital. The extent of her injuries were not life-threatening.
Police believe Bishop was driving the car and was responsible for the break-in.
He was the subject of a police hunt and was arrested on Freshwater Road days after the incident.
Bishop faces charges of aggravated assault of a peace officer, assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, assaulting a peace officer, and breaking and entering.
Bishop faces other charges, including numerous court breaches and other break-ins in relation to other incidents. They are also expected to be dealt with at his next court date.