Woodstock man charged in unusual case

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By Bryan Tait

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A man accused of stealing tires and then hiding under a seized minivan will remain in custody.

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PHOTO BY BRYAN TAIT

John Jeffrey Trail is led into provincial court on Friday afternoon. Trail was appearing for a bail hearing after he was arrested on Nov. 25 for attempting to steal tires from Provincial Bandag Tire Ltd. in Woodstock.

John Jeffrey Trail of Woodstock was in provincial court Friday for his bail hearing. Trail is facing charges of break, enter and theft relating to an incident at Provincial Bandag Tire Ltd. on Nov. 25, as well as two incidents in June at Corey Ford.

The 27-year-old was arrested in the early morning of Nov. 25 when members of the Woodstock Police Department received a call about a possible break and enter at Provincial Bandag. Officers arrived on the scene and saw a taxi owned by Don's Taxi backed up to the front of the business.

One individual was arrested at the scene. Police conducted a search of the area, but found no one else.

The taxi was seized and towed. As the tow truck approached the intersection of Heller and Main streets, the driver noticed something fall from the bottom of the taxi. The object turned out to be Trail, who had hidden in the spare-tire well of the vehicle.

Const. Graham Gill of the Woodstock Police Force testified for the Crown, saying he believes Trail would continue to commit crimes if he was released from custody.

"He's been given the opportunity to curb this behaviour," Gill said. "Obviously he isn't doing that."

Trail apparently has a drug problem and Gill said he's often committed thefts to pay for his habit.

Trail has been in a long-term relationship for over a year, and his attorney, Desmond Morley, argued the relationship was helping his client turn his life around.

Trail's girlfriend said he was a good person who needed to get help for his drug addiction.

"He can get the help," Jacqueline Conrad said.

Trail took the stand and testified he needed to stay out of jail before a trial to continue getting help for a cocaine addiction.

"I'm afraid if I'm held in jail the help will just stop," Trail said.

Trail is currently on a waiting list for Methadone treatment and is taking Dilaudid for chronic back pain. During his testimony, he alleged he hadn't been getting his medication in custody.

"They just lock me in my cell and forget about me," Trail said.

Judge Pierre W. Arsenault said he couldn't grant bail to Trail, saying there was no evidence Trail had been in any kind of treatment.

"No one argues with the proposition he needs help," Arsenault said. "There hasn't been any sustained willingness to do anything about it."

Trail will remain in custody and will make his next appearance on Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m. for election and plea.