A Surrey man who got drunk at a Vancouver restaurant and wound up spitting on a Vancouver Police Department officer will spend 12 months on probation after pleading guilty to assault.
On the evening of Jan. 23, 2021, Sahil Rishi had gone to the Cactus Club restaurant in English Bay to celebrate, Crown prosecutor Karen Haughton told Downtown Community Court Judge James Behan Thursday.
He became intoxicated and became argumentative despite being asked to calm down after which another patron intervened on behalf of staff.
A consensual fight ensued. Rishi was knocked to the ground, seemingly unconscious and with goose egg on his head, court heard.
Police arrived shortly after and escorted Rishi, who was having problems walking, out of the restaurant. He continued to be aggressive and was yelling.
When he began spitting on officers, they put him on the ground.
“'It is disgusting to be spit on,’” Haughton told the judge of what an officer had said.
An ambulance arrived shortly after to deal with Rishi's swelling. After he got to Vancouver General Hospital, he was wheeled in, with officers holding him down.
Behan heard Rishi has since been undergoing voluntary counselling and is also working on resolving his drinking issues.
Behan gave Rishi a conditional discharged with a $100 victim fine surcharge.
He must also write a letter of apology to the officer he spit on.
