CALGARY -- The driver of a stolen car who tried to run down cops to evade arrest should be declared a long-term offender, lawyers told court Wednesday.

But Crown prosecutor Jonathan Hak and defence counsel Jim Lutz differed on what prison sentence Louis Bear should serve before being supervised in the community for 10 years.

Hak told Justice Suzanne Bensler the seriousness of Bear’s conduct, combined with his lengthy criminal passed, call for a jail term of 6 1/2 years.

Hak said Bensler should also order Bear to serve at least half his prison time behind bars before he is eligible for parole.

But Lutz said similar cases in the past have resulted in jail terms of three to five years.
Lutz agreed an assessment by forensic psychiatrist Dr. Ken Hashman warranted a finding by Bensler that Bear is a long-term offender.

The designation falls short of a dangerous offender finding, which could have seen Bear locked up indefinitely.

Lutz noted Hashman found there was a possibility Bear could eventually be controlled in the community if he undergoes proper treatment.

“Mr. Bear has never been subject to community supervision,” Lutz said, reading from Hashman’s report.

“He requires intense treatment interventions,” Hashman had noted.

Bear was convicted in May of several charges, including two counts of assault with a weapon for driving his stolen car at two Calgary cops after he was cornered in a Bridgeland alley on Sept. 29, 2010.

Bensler acquitted Bear on two charges of attempted murder, ruling the evidence fell short of demonstrating he intended to kill Const. Peter Jadczyk and Const. Tony Walsh.

As Bear drove towards the officers a third cop, Const. Marc Strong, fired twice, striking Bear in the abdomen and leg, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a fence.

Bear’s criminal past includes conviction for dangerous driving causing death in connection with an Aug. 4, 2007 crash which killed two innocent bystanders.

Bear was fleeing from police when he ran down two men standing outside a Beltline nightclub.
Bensler will hand down her ruling on Oct. 17.