A man shot at by police as he was breaking into cars on MUN’s St. John’s campus seven years ago has pleaded not guilty to dozens of new, yet similar charges.
Justin Chipman, 34, literally dodged a bullet while trying to escape from police outside MUN’s Field House in February of 2014. The RNC had set up a sting to catch whoever was stealing vehicles and the valuables inside them.
Chipman was caught in the act and cornered after his stolen SUV got stuck in a snowbank. As he attempted to flee, an officer fired a single shot through the driverside window, grazing Chipman’s chest and elbow. He got away but was arrested hours later, and convicted of dangerous driving, and a raft of theft and break-in charges.
(File photo.)
A judge ruled that police used excessive force, but an independent investigation cleared the officer of wrongdoing. Chipman reportedly got almost $300,000 from a civil suit against the RNC.
Now, he’s back before the courts on similar kinds of offenses dating back to last summer and fall in the metro area.
Chipman faces almost three dozen charges, including stealing vehicles and credit cards, fleeing from police, and dangerous driving.
In court today, he pleaded not guilty on all counts. The next step will be to set a date for trial.
