A mysterious axe, a destroyed car and a man with his pants down.
These are just a few of the bizarre details of a court decision given earlier this week to a Lunenburg County man facing a drunk driving charge.
The decision, given by Judge Paul Scovil during a trial last month, notes on Dec. 3, 2019, police found a car parked on Highway 103 outside Bridgewater after being called to the area for a motor vehicle complaint.
Upon searching the car, police noticed the car was substantially damaged, as the windshield was missing and there was a hole in the rear window. They also noticed glass scattered on the ground, and found an axe in the back seat.
The car was assumed to be empty, until police saw a man lean forward in the drivers seat with his pants at his knees.
“I believe I can take judicial notice that this is an unusual way to wear one’s pants when operating a motor vehicle,” said Scovil in his decision.
The man, identified later as Trent William Lewis, asked the police why he was being pulled over.
Police said a strong smell of alcohol came off Lewis. When they asked him to pull his pants up and exit the vehicle, he attempted to run away.
“He did not get far before being tackled by the police officer,” Scovil said.
“Given Mr. Lewis’s condition the officer could have given him a 100-metre head start and he still would not have evaded capture.”
Scovil’s decision said Lewis was arrested and found with two apparent crack pipes on his person.
During the trial last month, a woman testified she was driving Lewis and her boyfriend from Liverpool and Bridgewater that evening, stating both men were at her home beforehand and were high on cocaine.
She said at some point during the drive, Lewis began to freak out and kicked out the windshield.
The woman said she and her boyfriend fled to a nearby service station to call for a ride, and went back to toss the keys in the wrecked vehicle, which belonged to Lewis.
“(The woman) testified that when they were picked up by their friend neither the axe nor the glass strewn about were there,” said Scovil in his decision.
“Where the axe came from remains a mystery as deep as the money pit on Oak Island.”
At the trial, Lewis said he didn’t remember much of that evening outside of a four day house party involving a quart of rum and cocaine prior to the incident.
As Lewis was found in the drivers seat of the vehicle, and had direct access to the keys which police found between the door and drivers seat, Scovil said Lewis “gave a realistic concern that upon being aroused, Mr. Lewis would start the vehicle and try to continue on his way.”
Lewis was convicted of driving while under the influence, as well as fleeing from police.
