A Prince George woman says a story in Tuesday's Citizen about a 32-year-old man's attempt to escape police at UHNBC June 4 is slightly off key from what really happened.
"I'm the wheelchair patient who was knocked down in the emergency unit," said Joanne Horner, who had just returned home from having both knees replaced in Vancouver.
"I want people to know that it wasn't the suspect who ran into me. It was the police officer chasing him.
"I was clear of the doorway, and the suspect didn't come near me as he ran by. The policeman also had lots of room to miss me, but he ran into both my friend and me, knocking me down. The police officer didn't apologize or make any move to help me get up," said Horner.
The incident has set back the recovery time by delaying therapy for a week due to the fall, said Horner, adding she's puzzled as to why the suspect wasn't strapped down to his hospital bed, so he couldn't escape.
"They had plenty of time to do that, because he was already wearing hospital garb."
Subduing the suspect, whom police believe was high on drugs, required the policeman, ambulance attendant and the taser.
The suspect had been arrested earlier that night in the downtown area where police allege he broke into five vehicles, damaging them, and thefts had occurred. When he resisted arrest, two more officers were called to assist as he continued to fight police officers.
The man was taken to the hospital when he said he needed medical attention.
The Prince George suspect, facing charges of theft, damage to vehicles, escape, resisting arrest, and assault of a police officer, has 46 previous Criminal Code convictions.
btrick@pgcitizen
