Man arrested naked in grocery store faces up to 12 months in jail

By Charlene Tebbutt

It was captured on video and shared widely on social media.

Now more details have been shared about the man who ran naked through the Prince Albert Superstore in early March. Calvin John Jobb previously pleaded guilty to charges including indecent exposure and mischief in relation to the incident, along with charges stemming from other, unrelated matters.

Jobb, 51, was back in court in Prince Albert on Monday for sentencing arguments in his case.

The Crown is asking for 12 months in jail less credit of 99 days, followed by nine months of probation. Prosecutor Gail Douglas also asked for just over $196 in restitution to be paid to Superstore, the cost of meat and food that had to be thrown away after Jobb was arrested.

The incident happened around 7 p.m., on March 3. Court heard that Jobb began hallucinating after taking what he thought was marijuana and was worried someone was trying to kill him. Douglas said Jobb swung a broom stick, yelled at customers, damaged cash registers, threw meat and jumped into one of the meat coolers.

“It would have been a most remarkable, and I’m understating it, a most remarkable incident to have witnessed,” Douglas said.

An employee described Jobb as “acting like a wild animal” and said he was yelling “Just shoot me” when police tried to arrest him. It took four officers to get Jobb out of the store, Douglas said, and at one point, he grabbed one of the officer’s tasers.

Legal Aid lawyer Robert Rooney said his client was scared during the incident and was yelling for help inside the store. Rooney said Jobb took off his clothes because he became very hot and said it was “a reflection of our times” that many people reached for their cellphones during the incident.

“He was in pretty rough shape,” Rooney said. “He knew he was consuming something, he didn’t know exactly what it was and he found that terrifying.”

Rooney suggested a six-month sentence in the case, saying Jobb has been seeking help to get and stay sober. He said the “public shaming” in the incident had been difficult.

“I’m sure just the Facebook aspects of this case would deter someone from doing this,” Rooney added. “He is hoping to get on with his life.”

Jobb apologized for his actions in court Monday.

“I didn’t know what I was thinking,” he said.

Provincial Court Judge Mary McAuley said she needs more time to hand down a sentence in the case. She said the incident was “disturbing for the people who were there, but disturbing for him as well.”

Jobb is scheduled to be sentenced May 22.