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Gimme my bag back!

Court Report
with Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 27/03) - A Yellowknife woman hunted down the 40-year-old man who stole her knapsack while he was drunk and high on crack.

Peter Martin, who pleaded guilty to theft not exceeding $5000, reached over a desk at the Yellowknife Inn and took the woman's bag on June 8.

The woman watched the incident, recorded on videotape, and went to look for him. She found him in the library and asked for her bag back.

Martin told her the contents were stashed near a dental clinic.

They went there together, but her two non-refundable airplane tickets to Newfoundland and $100 in cash were missing.

Martin told the RCMP he threw the tickets out the window of a car somewhere near Kam Lake.

The tickets were eventually found by someone else before the flight date, said his lawyer Kelly Payne.

She told the court her client has a "pernicious and persistent problem with alcohol and drugs" which has led to similar crimes in the past.

Judge Brian Bruser sentenced Martin to three months in jail and ordered him to pay $100 in restitution for the money taken.

"If you steal. Be prepared to pay it back," said Bruser.

Taser happy?

A 23-year-old man who taunted police to taser him was sentenced to three months in jail and fined $575 in territorial court this week.

Simon Houle pleaded guilty to assault with intent to resist arrest, assault, failing to attend court and two counts of breaching a court order.

Judge Brian Bruser said the Houle "almost seems to enjoy the taser experience much the same way people enjoy the jolt of a strong cup of coffee."

On Nov. 23, after a fight at the Gold Range, Houle assaulted an auxiliary police officer who was attempting to arrest him. Another RCMP officer tasered Houle three times, said Crown counsel Scott Niblock.

On March 5, he swung a man around by the ponytail at the Right Spot and tried to punch him.

Houle followed the man outside and punched him several times as he was getting into a cab. He also threatened to kill him if he called the RCMP.

Later, Houle -- who was on an undertaking not to drink -- was found by RCMP at the Gold Range and told the cops: "just taser me."

Houle's lawyer Kelly Payne said Houle doesn't remember pulling the man's hair or threatening him.

She said her client is remorseful and realizes he "is somewhat obnoxious when he drinks."