Man who barricaded himself in government office avoids jail

The man who walked into a welfareoffice and barricaded himself inside with a knife was sentenced Monday to 18 monthsprobation.

Howard Joseph Dalton had pleaded guilty to mischief in the March 1 incident in aprovincial socialservices officeat the Sherwood Business Centrein Charlottetown.

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"I hadn't eaten in four days ... I was hungry," Dalton told provincial court Judge John Douglas before the sentence was handed down.

"When the police came, I knew right away what I didwas wrong."

Dalton entered the offices at 4:30 p.m. March 1 with what was described as akitchen steak knife, according to an agreed statement of facts read in court Monday by Crown prosecutor Lisa Goulden.

"He handed a staff member a hand-written note" in which he threatened to harm himself,Gouldentold the court.

Tasers were not effective

Charlottetown police responded after a staff person called 911.

Officers discharged Tasers at Dalton, but "they were not effective, due to clothing issues," Gouldensaid.

Dalton then barricaded himself in a washroom and a four-hour stand-off with Charlottetown police ensued, during which timecrisismanagement officers talked with him.

Living on $270 a month

Defence lawyer Thane MacEachern told court Dalton acted out of desperation.

MacEachern told courtDalton had received a welfare cheque, but claimed his bank refused to cash it because he lacked proper ID.

Dalton did not have the $70 needed to buy new government ID.

"He was living on $270 a month, after rent was taken off his welfare cheque," MacEacherntold court.

Dalton claims tosufferfrom post traumatic stress disorder.

Hechoked back tears as he stood to speak before sentencing.

"I have no ill feelings to the government," he said.

"People on P.E.I. are lucky to have the social services we do. But the system is holding people back."

'More of a mental health issue'

Court heard a local advocacy group for disabled people has provided Dalton with funds to obtain properID tocash his welfare cheques.

In addition to 18 months' probation, the judge ordered Dalton to perform 50 hours ofcommunity service and to pay a$100 victims-of-crime surcharge.

"This seems serious for P.E.I," Douglas said in handing down sentence, "but it seems more of a mental health issue."

Douglas ordered Dalton to get counseling as directed by probation staff, and tostay away from the office where the incident occurred.

Dalton is prohibited from possessing weapons for five years and was ordered to provide a DNA sample to police.

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