Ticat fans in court

A rowdy Hamilton Tiger-Cat fan is facing a jail sentence for assaulting a police officer after mayhem broke out in the stands at Ivor Wynne during the final minutes of a close game against the B.C. Lions.

Ontario Court Justice John Takach ordered Christopher Davies, 30, to return to court Jan. 17 to be sentenced for the assault on Hamilton police Constable Edward Penner on Nov. 15, 2009.

Assistant Crown attorney Valerie Gillis said Penner was among a number of paid-duty officers who rushed into the stands in the northwest corner of the field to assist a security guard who was being mobbed by unruly fans.

Mark McQuay, of Star Security, was punched and shoved by nearly 20 people after he attempted to oust an unknown Ticat fan who had thrown a large can full of beer at the visiting team's bench, narrowly missing a B.C. player.

Davies was warned by Penner to step away from the skirmish, but ignored him and reached out to grab the arm of another officer. Penner put one hand on Davies' chest and with the other removed his hand from the other officer.

The prosecutor said Davies swatted Penner's hand away and shoved the officer hard with both hands, causing Penner to lose his balance and nearly fall backwards.

Penner then placed Davies under arrest and dragged the man down eight rows of stadium seats to a lower platform, where he forced him to the ground and began to cuff his hands behind his back.

At this point, said Penner, he heard a voice saying, “Get off my buddy.”

Then someone wrapped his arms around his chest, locking his arms at his sides, and lifted him off the ground.

Testifying yesterday, Penner identified the man who jumped him from behind as Daniel Millette, 30.

Unlike his co-accused, Millette chose to plead not guilty to a single count of assaulting a peace officer and proceeded to trial yesterday before Ontario Court Justice Bernd Zabel.

Penner said Millette grabbed him from behind in a bear hug. He felt himself being lifted into the air and swung around toward a railing, with a 12-foot drop to the field.

“Oh yeah, he was strong... I knew there was a big guy behind me,” said Penner. “I was being tossed upwards and the railing to the field was right there, about a foot away.