BONNYVILLE - The 25-year-old woman charged with shooting at a vehicle on the Elizabeth Métis Settlement on Boxing Day was granted bail.
Amy Jean Cardinal was released from the Edmonton Remand Centre on a $2,000 no-cash bail with conditions to keep the peace, be of good behaviour, not possess any weapons, remain in her residence between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., have no contact with the victims of the Dec. 26, 2019 incident involving a firearm unless they fill out a revocable waiver, meet with probation, and reside with her cousin on the Elizabeth Métis Settlement.
Cardinal was charged with taking a motor vehicle without consent, impaired driving, operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level over .08, and operating a motor vehicle while prohibited on Dec. 21, 2019. RCMP were called by Cardinal's father who had been chasing his daughter on-foot after she stole his truck from the 7-Eleven parking lot in Cold Lake.
According to Crown prosecutor Neil Thomson, who described the events during Cardinal's court appearance on Tuesday, Cardinal's father claimed after taking the truck without permission, she parked the vehicle on 58 St., locked herself in, and was hiding inside.
After police arrested Cardinal for taking the truck and took her to the RCMP detachment, officers noted the scent of liquor on her breath and asked her to provide a sample, the lowest result was 170-milligrams of alcohol per 100-millilitres of blood.
She was released the next day, but was back behind bars within the week.
On Dec. 26, 2019 Cardinal was arrested and charged with unauthorized possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assault with a weapon, resisting a peace officer, and two counts of uttering threats to cause death.
That morning, Cold Lake RCMP were called to a residence on the Elizabeth Métis Settlement where they received a report that Cardinal was there with a firearm.
One of the witnesses claimed Cardinal was shooting at a vehicle outside of the property, and at one point, threatened to kill the two people at the house.
Officers arrived on scene at around 9 a.m. and contained the area.
Thomson explained how one of the two victims, later confirmed to be Cardinal’s father, had managed to get inside of the residence while Cardinal was distracted and took the gun from her before sneaking back out of the house.
As he made his way out of the residence, Cardinal hit him with a wooden object.
Police kicked in the door and found Cardinal in the living room. While officers attempted to arrest Cardinal, she resisted, and was dragged to the floor where she was handcuffed.
Cardinal remained in custody until Jan. 9, 2020, when she was released on a $500 cash surety with conditions to have no contact with the victims of the Dec. 26, 2019 incident, remain in her residence 24-hours per day seven days of the week, and carry a copy of her release order with her at all times, which she failed to abide by.
She was arrested on Feb. 3 after her mother attended the Cold Lake RCMP detachment to notify police her daughter was breaching the conditions of her release by being at her father's home.
Officers attended the residence and Cardinal's father confirmed she was inside sleeping on the couch.
She has remained in custody since her arrest.
Thomson explained how the Crown was opposed to Cardinal's release on the primary and secondary grounds, noting the accused has a pattern of failing to comply with release orders.
"I don't believe there are conditions that could be crafted that she would follow," he added.
Dylan Strauss, acting duty counsel, said Cardinal suffers from stress and anxiety disorders and is hoping her release conditions will accommodate her work and any appointments she may need to attend for her pregnancy.
He added, Cardinal has been getting help through counselling and has remained sober since Christmas. She intends to live with family on the Elizabeth Métis Settlement upon her release.
Honourable Judge Cheryl Arcand-Kootenay granted Cardinal release from prison with strict conditions.
"You've done some very bad things," Arcand-Kootenay told the accused, adding this is her third time being released from custody.
"Strike three and you may not be getting out."
Cardinal is schedule to appear in the Cold Lake Provincial Courthouse March 11.
Meagan MacEachern, Bonnyville Nouvelle
