BY KEITH LACEY
A Sunday bike ride in a downtown park that turned ugly has resulted in jail sentences for three young adults.
Court heard Wednesday several youngsters on bicycles were confronted in Memorial Park by Christopher Cooper. The 19-year-old demanded money, and he threatened to steal their bicycles and beat them up.
After confronting the youngsters, Cooper ?whistled? and some friends emerged from a bush area. They included Emerick Shawanda, 22, and Angel Hookimaw, 19.
One of the youngsters turned over his bike and $20 in cash, said assistant Crown attorney Andrew Slater.
Minutes later, Cooper and Shawanda threatened another group of young people on a nearby walking trail. During this incident, Cooper smashed a
beer bottle over the face of a youngster, causing numerous cuts.
In court Wednesday, Cooper said he was the person responsible in both cases, but that Shawanda was also involved. He said other people charged were only observers. He was handed a six-month jail sentence.
Court heard Shawanda, a giant of a young man, had only been released from the penitentiary for six days after serving a long stint for stabbing his father. He was given a 15-month jail sentence on top of three months he still had left to serve on a three-year sentence for stabbing his father.
Defence counsel Alex Toffoli said all three men had been drinking heavily and this contributed in large part to what happened. Hookimaw was given a
four-month sentence after admitting to punching one of the youths in the face during one of the incidents.
