Probation for tomato fight

Photo: pixabay

An Oliver man received a suspended sentence and nine months of probation for getting into a tomato fight with a group of seasonal workers this summer.

Jamie Klink, 47, got into an argument with seasonal employees of the farm field he lived adjacent to in his trailer.

Upset that they had been starting work while he was still sleeping, “he began pacing back and forth on the property lines yelling at the seasonal workers... telling them to go back where they came from,” Crown counsel John Swanson said in Penticton court Friday.

When the owners of the neighbouring field got involved, Klink began throwing tomatoes at them. Klink, however, claims the tomatoes were thrown at him first.

Both sides left, called 911 and claimed they were assualted. When police arrived, they arrested Klink. He pleaded guilty Friday to one count of common assault.

“It was a situation that Mr. Klink just lost his ability to deal with,” defence lawyer Norm Yates said. He said his client had been “picked on” by the seasonal workers all summer leading up to the event.

Klink has lived on the property for about five years, and presented a letter of support from his landlord.

Judge Gale Sinclair handed down the nine month probation.