THUNDER BAY - A man who turned himself in to police following an assault on the city’s north side last September has since pleaded guilty to a previous assault from 2019 at a Halloween party that resulted in the victim requiring numerous stitches.
Travis Pike, 22, of Hurkett, Ont. appeared before Justice Chantal Brochu via video in a Thunder Bay Courtroom on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing bodily harm and one count of impaired driving.
The incident took place in the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2019 at a residence on Emerson Street where a Halloween party was taking place. Pike was in attendance and consuming alcohol.
The owner of the residence asked guests to leave and Pike then proceeded to punch the owner in the face, knocking him down, and then continued to punch and kick him in the head.
When police arrived on the scene, the victim was observed bleeding from the mouth and he was transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for treatment. The victim suffered injuries above the eye, as well as to the mouth and lips, which required 10 stitches.
Furthermore, Pike was arrested again on Jan. 7, 2020 after officers observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed down May Street and taking a fast turn onto Donald Street, crossing the centre line.
The vehicle failed to pull over when officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop and it continued into a driveway where it then struck a fence. The driver was identified as Pike and observed by officers to be impaired and he admitted to having consumed alcohol.
Tests conducted at the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters indicated that Pike had 180 milligrams of alcohol for 100 millilitres of blood.
The court heard that Pike has no previous criminal convictions and has struggled with alcohol abuse after losing both parents at a young age.
When given the opportunity to address the court, Pike apologized for his actions and acknowledged that being intoxicated is no excuse for the harm he caused. He added that he is hoping for a better future for himself and agreed that the time he has served has been deserved.
Justice Brochu said the unprovoked nature of the attack on the victim in his own home was an aggravating factor, but she also acknowledged Pike’s plea of guilt and expressions of remorse, as well as being a first-time offender as mitigating factors.
Ultimately, Justice Brochu sentenced Pike to four months in custody, deemed served with credit for 120 days of enhanced pre-sentence custody. On the impaired driving charge, Pike will be required to pay a $2,000 fine and is prohibited from driving for one year.
Pike will also be subjected to 12 months of probation, as well as being required to submit a DNA sample and is subject to a five year weapons prohibition.
Pike remains in custody on a separate aggravated assault charge from an incident that took place on Sept. 30, 2021 in the area of St. Paul Street and Van Norman Street. The victim was transported to hospital for treatment of injuries and Pike was identified as a suspect and turned himself in to police on Oct. 15.
He will appear in court again on the latest charge later this month.
