Teen charged in the murder of Constable Garrett Styles

The York Regional Police Homicide Unit has charged a 15-year-old youth of York Region with First-Degree Murder in the on-duty death of Constable Garrett Styles.

The accused male, the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident, was charged last night in hospital, where he remains with serious injuries.

He was remanded into the custody of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services – Justice Division and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on Thursday, July 7, 2011.

His name will not be released under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

On Tuesday, June 28, 2011, shortly before 5 a.m., Constable Styles initiated a traffic stop on Highway 48 just south of Herald Road in the Town of East Gwillimbury.

He pulled over a 2005 Dodge Caravan with four occupants. Constable Styles was investigating the driver and was at the driver’s side door when the vehicle accelerated. He was dragged approximately 300 metres before the vehicle lost control and rolled over, pinning him beneath it.

Firefighters with the East Gwillimbury Emergency Services extricated him and he was rushed to Southlake Regional Health Centre by York Region EMS, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Three passengers in the van were not seriously injured and are cooperating with the investigation, which is ongoing.

Constable Styles joined York Regional Police as a Cadet-in-Training in December 2003 and became a Constable in May 2004. He worked Uniform Patrol in #2 District, covering Richmond Hill and most recently in #1 District, covering the Towns of Newmarket, Aurora and East Gwillimbury.