Sean Patrick Edward Smith is seen in a 2018 police photo. (Image Credit: RCMP)

By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Accused flees treatment centre, misses trial

Jan 26, 2025 | 8:25 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — A Prince George provincial court judge issued a warrant on Friday, Jan. 24 for the arrest of a man who took the name of a treatment facility literally.

Sean Patrick Edward Smith, 39, was scheduled for trial before Judge Judith Doulis. He is charged with mischief under $5,000 and assault of a peace officer after a Feb. 17, 2023 incident in Prince George.

However, Smith did not show up.

So Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall asked Doulis to issue an unendorsed bench warrant for Smith. A suspect arrested on an unendorsed warrant must be held in custody for a court hearing.

Withall said that Smith had been in custody but Judge Richard Blaskovits released him on Tuesday, Jan. 21 to stay at a residential treatment centre called Set Free.

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“He was set free to Set Free?” Doulis asked.

“Well, he was just set free, to be very honest,” Withall said.

Withall explained that an employee of the program picked Smith up, but Smith is suspected of stealing a cell phone within five hours and fleeing.

“He ‘did a runner,’ which is why we’re not expecting him to appear today,” Withall said. “The Crown is awaiting a package for charge approval.”

Withall told Doulis that he wanted the trial to go ahead without Smith. Smith’s lawyer, Connor Carleton, was in attendance, as was a witness, a former Prince George Regional Correctional Centre guard who travelled from Williams Lake where he now works.

Smith is accused of throwing toilet water at a guard.

“He was released on Tuesday, knowing he had this trial date today.” Withall said.

Withall called Smith a “very recognizable person, with some distinct features.”

Smith’s online court file shows that he had been charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, uttering threats to burn, destroy or damage and mischief under $5,000 after a Feb. 10, 2023 incident in Prince George. But those charges were stayed on Wednesday, Jan. 22.