Parole Board of Canada says release revoked for Edmonton hostage taker

The Parole Board of Canada says a man who took nine people hostage at gunpoint in Edmonton will remain in custody for breaching the conditions of his parole, including using methamphetamine and hiring a prostitute. (Photo: Kurt Bauschardt/Flickr)

ABBOTSFORD, B.C.—The Parole Board of Canada says a man who took nine people hostage at gunpoint in Edmonton will remain in custody for breaching the conditions of his parole, including using methamphetamine and hiring a prostitute.

Patrick Clayton was armed with a rifle and 100 rounds of ammunition in 2009 when he forced the hostages into a room in the Workers’ Compensation Board office before surrendering to police.

He was sentenced to 11 years after pleading guilty to hostage-taking, pointing a firearm and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, but was granted day parole in November 2015.

After reviewing his case, including submissions from indigenous elders, the board said it is revoking Clayton’s statutory release due to his deteriorating behaviour and attitude.

“The board is satisfied that your risk to the community has elevated for re-offence and become undue,” said the report, released Tuesday.

The board said Clayton, 46, failed to meet curfew earlier this year and admitted using crystal meth. He also started viewing pornography on television and on his cellphone, and that led to him trading drugs to buy sex from a prostitute.

“In the board’s view, the behavioural and risk-elevating behaviours you were exhibiting were increasing in seriousness over time as evidenced by the circumstances surrounding your current suspension where you went at large from the community residential facility and exploited vulnerable victims in the community.”

Last year the board said he still posed a danger to society and should be moved to a halfway house when granted automatic release.

Day parole was continued, but with conditions that included no alcohol, illegal drugs or associating with criminals. Clayton was also to report any relationships with women.

The report said Clayton had a chaotic upbringing and a long history of drug use that started when he was a boy.

He eventually became addicted to cocaine.

The board said it is aware of the trauma he suffered as an indigenous person but Clayton has been unable to turn his life around despite ongoing interventions.

After sentencing, Clayton served prison time in Edmonton, then was held at the medium-security Mission Institution east of Vancouver.

On day parole he was transferred to a residential treatment centre on Vancouver Island.

Last year he was moved to an undisclosed location.