Drug debt and biker rivalry led to tattoo shop fire
A drug debt and a rivalry between biker gangs were at the heart of the fire that caused extensive damage to the Gaslight Tattoo Parlour last summer, court heard on Friday.
At just 21, Tyler Earl Ellis-Thomson from Moose Jaw has managed to accrue a significant criminal record, blaming a childhood trauma for his downward spiral.
Unlike many with large records, he told the court he barely drinks and doesn’t use drugs while pleading guilty to arson and conspiracy charges Friday.
But, said Crown prosecutor Lloyd Stang, Ellis-Thomson still managed to get in well over his head while selling cocaine and other drugs. Having purchased the drugs on credit, he found himself in a difficult position when his creditor came calling in July 2016.
Court heard Ellis-Thomson’s supplier was known to be associated with a biker gang, and that EllisThomson was told his $16,000 debt would be written off if he set fire to the tattoo shop associated with a rival gang. The gangs in question were not identified in court.
The young man said he had concerns for his family’s safety and so agreed to take on the task. Court heard he got drunk, then headed to the Saskatchewan Drive business early on the morning of July 4, 2016, using a rock to smash the glass on a door. He put liquid accelerant inside and lit it before leaving the area. Stang said the fire engulfed the interior.
While it didn’t spread beyond the business, Stang noted there was a house next to the shop could have been at risk.
An investigation resulted that, on Christmas Eve, led to EllisThomson’s arrest. He was released on conditions but soon found himself back in trouble.
Court heard he was one of five individuals who plotted to rob a man of his drugs after arranging to buy a significant amount of cocaine and marijuana from him.
Stang said Ellis-Thomson’s role ended with the planning and that he didn’t participate in the actual incident on Deergrove Crescent that turned bad.
Court heard the robbery attempt went sour when the target showed up with two friends and hostility broke out between the two groups. One of Ellis-Thomson’s co-conspirators reportedly pulled out a gun and fired, hitting one of the dealer’s friends three times.
That man underwent surgery, including to repair internal organ damage resulting from a wound to his abdomen.
Stang asked provincial court Judge Barbara Tomkins to consider imposing a total sentence of 3½ years less six months remand credit — a proposal Ellis-Thomson didn’t dispute. Tomkins set sentencing over to Wednesday.