A man from Yukon involved in a gun battle with a police officer in Whitehorse has been given a 10-year and six-month prison sentence. Sheldon Keobke admitted to six charges, including attacking a police constable, having a banned weapon, and possessing fentanyl and cocaine for drug trafficking purposes.
During a sentencing session on August 13, the Crown and defense attorneys jointly recommended a 10-and-a-half-year sentence for Keobke. The Yukon territorial court judge approved the proposal, which also imposes a lifelong ban on possessing weapons.
After factoring in time already served, Keobke has about four years and 10 months remaining on his sentence. The incident involving Keobke occurred near a residence in Porter Creek in September 2022.
As per the agreed statement of facts, on September 28, 2022, a team of officers went to a house in Porter Creek to arrest Keobke for breaching release conditions. Keobke tried to escape in a vehicle but was blocked by the police. He then got out of the car and attempted to flee on foot, prompting an officer to chase him and order him to stop.
Keobke took cover, and when the officer saw what appeared to be a gun in Keobke’s hand, the officer fired about 10 shots in five seconds. Keobke also fired, injuring the officer in the leg. Both individuals were treated at the hospital for their gunshot wounds.
Court records show that Keobke suffered multiple fractures in his shoulder and hand, as well as a liver tear, during the altercation. He underwent several surgeries in Whitehorse and Vancouver and was left with permanent injuries.
When attempting to flee, Keobke tossed a fanny pack over a fence where authorities later discovered carfentanil, cocaine, and over $10,000 in cash. Additionally, Keobke confessed to attacking an inmate at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre last year.
Following the sentencing on August 13, the National Police Federation criticized the sentence as “frustrating and unacceptable.” Britt Bancroft, the Federation’s Pacific/North Board Director, condemned the court for what was perceived as leniency towards Keobke.
Bancroft expressed concern over the growing violence against police officers across Canada, citing shootings, assaults, and targeted attacks. The Federation believes that failing to hold individuals like Keobke accountable for harming officers poses a heightened risk to law enforcement personnel nationwide.