A recent discovery by CBC News reveals that the man accused of causing the death of a six-year-old boy due to impaired driving in St. John’s had been in a previous crash just two days before the fatal incident. Despite this, police officers did not check his information, missing the fact that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
The incident occurred on July 21 when 32-year-old Tyler Day, driving a work truck, collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Stamp’s Lane and Terra Nova Road. Although the other vehicle sustained significant damage, there were no serious injuries reported. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) did not run a check on Day at the time as the crash was deemed “non-criminal.”
It was only two days later that police discovered the warrant when Day allegedly struck Zafeer Munir, the six-year-old boy, at the intersection of Thorburn Road and Larkhall Street. Day fled the scene but was apprehended shortly after by an eyewitness on Cumberland Crescent. Initially charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm, the charges were later elevated to include impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, and failing to remain at the scene of an accident causing death.
Former police officer and criminologist Michael Arntfield noted that had the RNC acted on the warrant earlier, Day might still have been released before the fatal incident. Arntfield expressed surprise that the police did not check Day’s information at the scene of the first crash, emphasizing the importance of verifying individuals’ details during police interactions for safety and potential criminal implications.
Day, currently in custody, is scheduled for a court appearance on Sept. 8 for a status update. Despite working on a release plan and intending to seek bail, the tragic sequence of events leading to the boy’s death highlights the significance of thorough police procedures and checks during all interactions.
The evolving circumstances surrounding Day’s case serve as a reminder of the critical role that proper police protocols play in preventing such devastating outcomes.