A 70-year-old man spent at least two nights in local police cells because he refused to sign papers that would have allowed his release.
“I don’t accept the charges,” Webster Nicol told Judge Ron Lamperson on Monday in Campbell River provincial court.
Appearing in the prisoner’s box, Nicol also denied he is schizophrenic and is not taking any medication.
According to Crown prosecutor Adrienne Venturini, Nicol was arrested Sunday by Campbell River RCMP for allegedly driving a stolen vehicle. He’s charged with possession of property obtained by crime and refusing to provide a breath sample.
Following his arrest, police were prepared to release him on conditions and a promise to appear in court, but Nicol refused to sign the documents.
That led to an overnight stay in the uncomfortable cells at the RCMP detachment and a court appearance the next day. However, he still wouldn’t sign the papers Monday afternoon and insisted on being represented by defence lawyer Angie Penhall.
So Nicol was sent back to city cells and was due to appear before Judge Roderick Sutton on Tuesday. Details were not available at press time.
Nicol is the author of “New Light From the Bible,” described on the Amazon website as a personal account of his own religious experiences.