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Kelowna  

Drunk, assaulted police

A 36-year-old man pled guilty to assaulting two police officers during an incident in downtown Kelowna last May that left the officers bruised and injured.

Dymon Kerry Poorman was sentenced to one day in jail and 12 months probation Tuesday for assaulting the officers and breaching his bail conditions by drinking alcohol.

Two officers, a man and a woman, responded to Willowbridge Transitional Housing just after 7 p.m. last May, after staff reported Poorman and his girlfriend were acting extremely intoxicated and aggressive towards staff members.

Crown lawyer Colin Forsyth said Poorman had been drinking all day and the rules of the transitional housing complex states residents are not allowed to bring alcohol into the building.

Police entered the unit after no one answered the door and saw two people lying on the bed.

“They looked at police and began swearing, telling police to get the f*** out,” said Forsyth.

Police told the woman she needed to go back to her room several times, but Poorman became "fixated" on the female officer.

“He became extremely angry, belligerent with his fists clenched, yelling to perform a sexual act on him,” said Forsyth. “Poorman moved (his girlfriend) out of his way and took an aggressive step towards (the female officer) with his fists clenched and swearing.”

The male officer stepped in and told Poorman he was under arrest, but Poorman resisted.

“The (male) officer was assaulted in several different ways by Poorman,” said Forsyth. “A swollen right eye, swollen and sore elbow, and minor abrasions to his arms.

“A large bruise developed on the officers forearm and around his right eye ... The (female) officer suffered injuries to a nerve in her left elbow and significant swelling and bruising to her as a result.”

Poorman was arrested, but was later released from custody on bail, under a condition not to consume any alcohol.

The following month, Poorman was found drunk by police in downtown Kelowna. In July, police found him drunk again, causing a disturbance. 

The court heard Poorman had a “criminal lifestyle early on in Regina," was involved in “some gang activity." 

"Alcoholism has been ... a demon that has plagued him since he was a teenager and will be a demon that plagues him for some time to come," said Forsyth.

Defence lawyer Dave Johnson said “an abstinence condition would be problematic.”

Justice Cathaline Heinrichs ordered Poorman apologize to both officers and sentenced him to one day in jail and 12 months probation, which includes a condition of no drinking alcohol in public. 



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