Stabbing suspect at centre of police standoff denied bail
Bradley Anthony Reid, 31, of Fredericton, is accused of endangering the life of Wilbur Elliott by way of an aggravated assault
A Fredericton man arrested accused of aggravated assault in a stabbing investigation has been denied bail and will remain in custody until his case concludes.
Bradley Anthony Reid, 31, of Douglas Avenue, appeared in Fredericton provincial court by video from jail Thursday for a bail hearing.
He’s charged with committing an aggravated assault by wounding Wilbur Elliott in Fredericton on Feb. 21, as well as breaching his probation.
An aggravated assault is defined as one that endangers the life of the victim.
At the request of duty counsel Gerald Pugh, Judge Natalie LeBlanc ordered a publication ban on evidence presented at Thursday’s hearing as well as the reasons for her decision.
That publication ban will remain in effect until the case concludes.
After reviewing a Fredericton police brief on the allegations against Reid and hearing testimony from Reid and his mother, LeBlanc ruled the defendant’s continued detention was justified and remanded him pending the outcome of the charges.
Crown prosecutor Patricia Gillett also asked the court to impose an order on Reid barring him from communicating with Elliott and another man, Ben Murphy, while he’s on remand, which LeBlanc granted.
The judge set the matter over for election of mode of trial and pleas to March 16.
Reid’s arrest Feb. 21 came after a standoff with police that lasted hours that same day.
The Fredericton Police Force issued an advisory the morning of Feb. 21 for people to avoid Hillcourt Drive on the city’s north side, citing an active police operation as the reason.
Reid had barricaded himself inside a residence at the east end of the street.
Members of the city police force’s emergency response team, as well as other officers, surrounded the home. At times, officers could be heard trying to communicate with the suspect by way of a megaphone.
Eventually, Reid was arrested and charged in court the following day.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.