Drug-fueled crime spree sends man with ‘horrific’ record to prison

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A St. Thomas man who went on a drug-induced crime spree last year was responsible for creating the psychosis that led him to steal multiple vehicles and ram police cruisers, ruled a judge who has sentenced him to prison.

When Bryor Kiff, 31, was finally arrested on Sept. 6, 2023, he was charged with 34 offences committed in a two-day period in Norfolk County during which he removed a GPS ankle monitor, stole a pair of vehicles and committed other bizarre, wild behaviour.

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“The Crown’s submission is that it’s time for Mr. Kiff to go to the penitentiary,” assistant Crown attorney Lynette Fritzley said as Kiff was sentenced recently.

“He has an unenviable criminal record that’s extensive and constant and screams of a serious drug addiction and a complete disregard for public safety and the community.”

Kiff, well-known to both police and the community in his hometown, according to his lawyer, first came to the attention of Ontario Provincial Police in Norfolk County when a citizen reported a possible impaired driver in a pickup truck.

The truck almost immediately crashed into a marshland area on Highway 59. By the time police arrived, it had been pulled out of the mud but officers followed the dirt tracks to a nearby marina and talked to Kiff, who deliberately misidentified himself.

As police investigated, learning the truck was stolen, Kiff removed a dirt bike from the bed of the truck and, popping a wheelie, sped away.

Kiff met a stranger who helped him get gas for the dirt bike but, while the man was getting him motor oil, Kiff jumped in the man’s truck, locked the doors and took off. He immediately lost control of the truck trying to do a U-turn.

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After continuing to evade police through the night, Kiff next was at a First Concession Road home, where he used a hose to wash himself down and left it running, draining the home’s well.

He broke into a nearby shed, drank beer, ate food and stole a 1973 yellow Mustang.

A citizen reported seeing the Mustang weaving all over the road and police confronted Kiff, who was in the car at the Circle K parking lot in Delhi, where he banged into three police cruisers before trying to run.

Kiff was arrested wearing a damp blanket around his waist, wet socks and a toque. He refused to provide a breath sample to police and was found in possession of various stolen items.

Police learned he was on a court-ordered house arrest but had cut off his GPS ankle monitor and left his mother’s home.

In court he pleaded guilty to obstructing police, stealing the pickup and the Mustang, threatening one of the vehicle owners, two counts of driving while prohibited, driving dangerously, possession of stolen property, breaching his release orders, breaking and entering, mischief for damaging the police cruisers, and failing to comply with a demand made by police.

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Kiff was assessed to see if he was not criminally responsible for his actions but a report said he had brought on a drug-induced psychosis due to crystal meth use.

“I take full responsibility for my actions,” Kiff told the court. “I apologize to everyone involved. They did not deserve to have their property stolen. I plan to seek high-intensity drug rehabilitation as a discharge plan because I don’t believe I, alone, have the skills and tools to beat this addiction.

“I need help, your honour.”

But while the Crown asked for another two-and-a-half-year sentence on top of Kiff’s time served of about 14 months, plus two restitution orders, Kiff’s lawyer said he could be appropriately punished by going back to jail for less than two years.

“His record is long, horrific and aggravating,” admitted lawyer Lisa Gunn, “but I don’t know that he’s ready to jump to the penitentiary.”

Gunn said while there was violence and extensive damage involved in the crimes and Kiff was on a release order at the time, his guilty plea saved “an incredible amount of court time” and he’s been hard at work taking courses and engaging in jail jobs.

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“The cobwebs have cleared. He’s been in hospital and is on medications,” Gunn said.

Gunn suggested an additional 20 to 22 months in jail.

Justice Gethin Edward said Kiff had a previous record of 56 convictions and his behaviour reflected an “individual in the throes of a raging addiction” who went from one bad situation to another for two days. “He saved the court time but we’re working extremely hard in the courts to reduce the (pandemic) backlog so we can’t be held hostage by the threat of taking stuff to trial.”

Edward sentenced Kiff to about 14 months of time already served plus 32 further months in prison. He also ordered a 10-year driving prohibition and a restitution order for Kiff to pay the government more than $9,000 for the damage to the cruisers.

SGamble@postmedia.com

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