Standoff suspect is unco-operative for court appearance
Aaron Glen Narvey, 32, who faces charges after Wednesday night standoff on Fredericton's north side, refused to leave cell for initial proceeding
A man accused of assaulting his mother and brother before barricading himself in a home on Fredericton’s north side this week refused to leave a jail cell for a Friday court appearance.
Fredericton police officers arrested Aaron Glen Narvey, 32, of no fixed address, Wednesday night after a three-hour standoff at a home at the south end of Cliffe Street.
Police laid new charges against him in Fredericton provincial court Thursday afternoon, alleging he assaulted his mother Shelley Brewer and brother Kristopher Narvey with a weapon (bear spray), unlawfully confined Brewer, uttered threats to cause Brewer death and/or bodily harm, breached a police undertaking to have no contact with Brewer, and violated a probation order, all on Wednesday.
Officials tried to hold his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon by telephone from the city police station, but Narvey was incoherent when he was put on the phone. As a result, Judge Anne Dugas-Horsman set the case over to Friday in the hope that the defendant would be more responsive.
But when the court called the provincial jail where Narvey is being held now to get him on the phone, it was told he wasn’t co-operating.
“He’s refusing to come out [of his cell] to go to court,” an unnamed jail official said on the phone.
The woman noted correctional officers were bringing a phone to Narvey instead.
Within a couple of minutes, the call was transferred, and Narvey responded when Dugas-Horsman said his name.
“I tried to talk to you yesterday,” the judge said.
She read the new charges to Narvey and noted his bail hearing on those counts would be held Monday morning. He said little in reply.
“Do you understand, Mr. Narvey?” Dugas-Horsman said, but her inquiry was met with silence.
While bail hearings are typically held via video conference from correctional centres in New Brunswick, the judge said in this case it appears Narvey will need to appear in person.
“He will be transported to court. There is no other choice,” she said.
Dugas-Horsman remanded him again until the bail hearing.
Narvey had been on the lam from authorities since last fall, as he was wanted on an outstanding warrant of arrest for various crimes.
The Fredericton Police Force issued a news release Oct. 20 asking the public for tips on his whereabouts.
The advisory warned the public that Narvey was dangerous and shouldn’t be approached.
On top of the new charges laid this week stemming from events Wednesday, previous outstanding charges included Oct. 13 counts of assault on a police officer with a weapon (a car), flight, dangerous driving, possession of a stolen car and breach of probation.
Narvey’s also charged with a Sept. 14 probation violation; assault on his mother, property damage and another probation violation Sept. 25; and a Nov. 14 failure to attend court.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.