(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)
August 10, 2016 - 4:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - A Kamloops Supreme Court judge is giving a low level Vancouver drug dealer a break after his application for bail was denied earlier this year.
Tyler Paterson, 22, will be released from pre-trial custody on a $5,000 recognizance to the custody of his parents in Vancouver.
Paterson was on bail in March of this year for dealing cocaine and fentanyl.
Judge Hope Hyslop read in her decision today, Aug. 10, that Paterson travelled from Vancouver to Cranbrook in September 2015 in order to sell drugs.
Police had been surveilling Paterson and caught up with him in Cranbrook. He was arrested and charged with two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Paterson was granted bail on the charges.
In March of this year while still on bail Paterson was travelling with a woman to Cranbrook. The vehicle was pulled over and drugs were found in the car.
Paterson has been in custody ever since. But Hyslop pointed out that in the previous judge's decision to deny bail, the judge never mentioned why they thought Paterson would reoffend or be a risk to the public.
"Mr. Paterson... is not a threat to public safety or the witnesses," Hyslop said.
Hyslop granted Paterson bail on strict conditions, including not drinking or consuming drugs and not having a cell phone.
The case is expected to be moved back to Cranbrook next week.
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