Police say a man who faces charges after an alleged fight in a correctional facility last week is now facing additional charges after he fled police during a traffic stop Monday night.
Two officers stopped a vehicle on Highway 111 in Dartmouth shortly after 8:30 p.m. because the vehicle's registered owner was listed as having a revoked license.
Officers approached the vehicle and requested the driver's paperwork. The driver fled the scene quickly, striking one officer's hand and the second officer's elbow.
"Instead of providing that information, the driver put the car into drive and sped away," Const. Brian Palmeter confirmed to CTV.
The officers were not injured. They followed the vehicle and eventually found it abandoned on Lakemist Court in East Preston.
A K-9 unit was able to track the man down and police arrested him.
Patrick Carl Shea, 39, appeared in Dartmouth Provincial Court Tuesday morning to face charges of dangerous driving, flight, breaching a driving prohibition, two counts of assaulting a police officer and three counts of breach of recognizance.
Shea faces additional charges after a separate incident involving an alleged fight with an inmate last week.
Police say a fight broke out between two inmates at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth on May 11, which landed one of the men in hospital after he fell down a flight of stairs during the fight.
Eddie McNamara, 49, remains in hospital in critical condition and family members say his injuries are potentially life-threatening.
Shea is facing three counts, including aggravated assault, breach of probation and breach of recognizance in connection with that incident.
He was released last week but was ordered to remain under house arrest. The Crown did not oppose his release.
Justice Minister Ross Landry would not comment on the case Tuesday.
"As the attorney general it's not appropriate for me to question the decision of the court in these types of matters," says Landry. "I respect the court, I value the job that they do and I will adhere to their direction as to how they see an individual client."
Shea is due back in court May 31.
