Defendant in knife attack on police officer rebellious, silenced in court

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SARNIA – Sarnia man charged with attempted murder of city police officer who repeatedly stabbed in the head and neck during a welfare check caused security concerns in the city's jail and courtrooms.

Ryan Whiteway, 36, was arrested Aug. 20 in a downtown Sarnia apartment complex after a 37-year-old police officer was taken to a London hospital with multiple stab wounds. The officer was released from the hospital two days later but still requires medical attention, police said.

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Three correctional officers guarded Whiteway in a small room at the Sarnia jail on Wednesday as he returned to court via video link. The court appearance, which was not covered by a publication ban, was confrontational and ultimately cut short.

Whiteway, wearing orange prison garb with long hair and a beard, first asked if a person named Randolph was on the Zoom link. He then told Justice of the Peace Pauline Bessegato he did not have an attorney and would represent himself.

“I'm articulate and well-spoken enough, ma'am. Burglarized. Assaulted. Kidnapped. No notice of entry. They knocked me down in my apartment while I was handcuffed and beat me in the back of the patrol car while I was handcuffed,” he said.

Whiteway raised his tattoo-covered arms and said maybe they could see his injuries.

“I have delayed onset muscle soreness — it's called DOMS. They closed the door to my apartment, slammed my head against the wall and knocked me down,” he said.

Deputy District Attorney Aniko Coughlan suggested Whiteway's case be presented to a judge in Sarnia next week to move the matter forward.

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“This is terrible. I don't belong here, ma'am. Broken in. Assaulted. Kidnapped. No notification of entry. No rational justification for any of this. Karma is one thing and this…” Whiteway said before a sudden silence fell.

“I muted him,” said the court clerk.

Coughlan suggested that the court hearing before the judge next week should also be conducted via video link from prison.

“Only for security reasons, Your Honor, as opposed to appearing in person at this time, but I'll leave that to the court,” she said.

Bessegato told Whiteway that his appearance on September 3 would be broadcast via video. Coughlan pointed out that it appeared as if he was speaking, but because of his behavior, he was muted.

“He seems a little frustrated in the background, Your Honor. Perhaps we can move on to the next point so that the guards can remove the defendant from the video room,” she said.

“He can go. Thank you,” Bessegato told the officers.

Police said they were called to the Seaway Centre apartment building on Front Street around 10:30 p.m. on August 20 about a man in distress. Officers entered the building and the wanted man emerged from a hidden hiding place armed with a sharp weapon and attacked them, they said.

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According to court documents, Whiteway lives on the 15th floor of this building.

Identified in those files as Const. Karl Brown, the 13-year-old Sarnia police officer required several units of blood and plasma to stabilize his condition at the London Hospital and dozens of stitches to close wounds on his right arm, right temple, under his right eye, trapezius muscle, back and hand, police said. He was discharged from hospital He died two days later but still requires medical attention to assess possible nerve damage and long-term effects, police said.

In addition to attempted murder, Whiteway is also facing a second charge, namely breach of contract. He is alleged to have concealed his change of address from the Guelph police, according to the documents.

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