Man fined for bar assault

Aman who punched a stranger in the face while his hands were down has been fined and placed on probation for a year.

Kurtis Lauren Babb was at a bar April 7 when he felt Mother Nature’s call. While standing at the urinal in the men’s washroom, he “somehow” got into an argument with a fellow standing next to him and punched him in the head and face.

Witnesses told police Babb suckerpunched the victim, who sustained cuts near his eyes and lips.

Police were called and Babb was thrown out of the bar, but he went to another bar downtown where police later found him.

When an officer tried to arrest him, Babb pulled away and fled from the bar. He ran down the street with the officer in pursuit, and after a second officer joined the chase, Babb was finally caught.

He continued to struggle, however, until police were eventually able to handcuff him.

Babb, who has previous convictions for impaired driving and assault, pleaded guilty Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court to one count each of assault and resisting arrest. He was fined $500 and placed on probation for one year, during which he is to behave himself, attend court when directed, avoid contact with the man he punched, abstain from alcohol and drugs, not possess any weapons, and take counselling and treatment for anger management and substance abuse.

Lethbridge lawyer Darcy Shurtz told court his 33-year-old client is remorseful for his conduct and is already receiving counselling and voluntarily staying away from alcohol and bars.

“All his troubles in the past, including this incident, are because of alcohol,” Shurtz said, adding that while that’s no excuse, it explains Babb’s behaviour.