Whitehorse man gets reduced sentence after being hit by corrections officer

A Whitehorse man was released from the Whitehorse Correctional Centre Friday after being hit by a corrections officer last month.

Patrick Parker, 34, received a reduced sentence and was released for time served, due to injuries he sustained at the Whitehorse jail on Nov 24.

Parker was arrested and taken into custody in October and faced charges including common assault and breach of probation.

According to the agreed statement of facts, read in court Friday, while Parker was in custody, he intervened when another inmate punched a corrections officer in the face.

Both Parker and the other inmate were subsequently moved to another unit. Two corrections officers escorted Parker to the unit, while he was handcuffed and had chains around his feet.

Another person trailed Parker and the officers with a camera and one officer shouted at Parker not to look at it. When Parker didn’t comply, the officer struck him in the back of the head. Parker’s head hit a desk and he was tackled to the ground, before being left in a cell.

Parker suffered a strained wrist, swelling in his face, welts on his back and a bloody nose.

In a statement to CBC News, the Yukon Department of Justice said that three inmates were involved in an incident earlier this year where an alleged assault on a peace officer occurred. It also said that a camera was used to document the movement of inmates to a different cell, which is in keeping with department policy.

The department said the incident is still under investigation and it wouldn't provide any other details at this time.

Parker’s initial arrest was a result of an incident that occurred at the Edgewater Hotel in Whitehorse. On the night of Oct. 5, Parker knocked on a woman’s door at the hotel and when she opened it, he struck her in the ribs and face before passing out, according to her statement to police. The woman left her room and called the police. Officers found Parker asleep on her bed in the hotel room.

Parker was under probation when he committed those offences. He pleaded guilty to the charges of common assault and breach of probation.

In a joint submission, both the Crown and the defence agreed to reduce Parker’s sentence from 128 days to 113 days as a result of the injuries he suffered at the correctional centre in November. Upon his release, Parker had served 75 actual days, but his time was enhanced to 113 days. Enhanced credits can be given when an inmate is subject to harsh conditions while in custody.

Both parties also agreed to a sentence of 12 months probation, which Judge John Phelps accepted.

During his probation, Parker is prohibited from having any contact with the woman he assaulted and is not permitted to enter the Edgewater Hotel.