A 28-year-old Halifax man has just been released from prison, even though the Parole Board of Canada has serious concerns about his risk to reoffend.

Jason Kyle DeYoung was released May 20 after serving two-thirds of a seven-year sentence for crimes including: escaping lawful custody, three counts of assault with a weapon, death threats and two counts of armed robbery.

DeYoung led police on a high-speed chase through the streets of Halifax in October 2007.

At his trial, court heard that the incident began the day before the chase when DeYoung attempted to steal a pint of rum from a Nova Scotia Liquor Store in north-end Halifax.

When employees tried to stop him, he used bear spray before making his getaway in a stolen Honda Civic.

The very next day, store clerks spotted the Honda back in the parking lot. They called police, and undercover officers blocked in the driveway.

The court heard that DeYoung then used the car to try to ram the police officers, who drew their guns first to shoot at the hood of the car, and then at DeYoung, in an attempt to stop him.

DeYoung rammed the unmarked police car out of his path and sped away.

Up to 18 police cars pursued the stolen Honda at speeds up to 140 kilometres per hour through busy streets on both sides of the Halifax harbour.

Cocaine use while in a halfway house

Police stopped lanes of traffic, the court heard, but DeYoung rammed his way through, forcing one officer to jump on the hood of a nearby car to keep from being run down.

The episode came to an end 25 minutes later when the stolen Honda suddenly stopped in front of the Dartmouth Sportsplex. DeYoung, who had been hit by a police bullet in his left knee, was removed from the car and taken to hospital.

DeYoung has been given temporary passes from prison in the past, to help reintegrate him into society. But each time, he has failed to abide by conditions and has been brought back to prison.

The latest statutory release started in September of last year. DeYoung was living at a halfway house but his release was revoked after he tested positive for cocaine.

"When considering the type of violent offence you might commit, and the risk you could pose to public safety while under the influence of such substances as cocaine," the parole board wrote in its decision to suspend his latest release, "the board must exercise caution."

The board noted: "your current offences consist of serious dangerous driving violations; you also have dangerous driving violations in previous offences and have a history of thrill seeking behaviours involving high speed car chases."

As a result, the board says DeYoung cannot own or operate a motor vehicle.