A motorcyclist literally ran circles around city police officers, taunting them as he sped along Sault Ste. Marie's main arteries in the summer of 2022.
Louis Boyer ran red lights, popped wheelies, gave cops the finger, and one night did laps around the police service parking lot.
The 25-year-old Mississauga First Nation man pleaded guilty Monday to dangerous driving and two counts of fleeing police.
Ontario Court Justice John Condon heard the dangerous driving offence stemmed from four different incidents that occurred in July and August 2022.
Shortly after midnight on July 26, a cruiser was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Second Line East and Great Northern Road.
A motorcycle pulled up behind it, the driver revved the engine, and drove through the light.
He then circled the cruiser, yelling and giving the officer the finger, prosecutor Stuart Woods said.
Boyer then headed south on Great Northern Road at a high rate of speed, where he did catwalks, circles and travelled through more red lights.
On Aug. 22 at 11 p.m., an officer was involved at a traffic stop at the Dairy Queen on Great Northern Road when a speeding motorcyclist flew by.
As the accused travelled towards the downtown core, he ran a red light at Bruce Street and Grosvenor Avenue.
Boyer continued his antics, doing donuts and circles and giving police the middle finger at nearby intersections, the assistant Crown attorney said.
Five days later, he pulled a similar stunt at the intersection of Queen Street East and Dennis Street, passing a cruiser at a high rate of speed while doing a wheelie.
Around 11:30 p.m. that same day, when an officer spotted him speeding along Second Line East, Boyer pulled into the parking lot of the police service building and did laps there.
He was arrested on Aug. 30, when he was observed doing wheelies at Wellington Street West and Carmen's Way.
The court heard Boyer had two Highway Traffic Act (HTA) driving suspensions at the time of these incidents.
The Crown and defence lawyer Antoine-Rene Fabris jointly recommended that his client receive an eight-month conditional sentence to be served in the community.
Boyer's actions warrant a custodial sentence, Woods said, pointing to the number of dangerous occurrences — four in less than two months — and his "blatant taunting of multiple police officers."
He had no licence and "his conduct put the public and officers at risk."
Woods noted his guilty pleas had saved judicial resources from "what would have been complicated trials."
As well, Jordan, who has been on bail since September 2022, has made changes in his life, he said.
Referring to a Gladue report prepared for sentencing, Fabris said it details the issues his client has faced all his life.
Boyer comes from a broken family where there was substantial alcohol and drug abuse, the defence said.
He has been diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Fabris said he was going through a difficult period involving a child custody matter that summer.
"What he did was outrageous," he told Condon, describing Boyer's actions as "a cry for attention, a cry for help."
Since his arrest, Boyer has been keeping his nose clean, has found employment, and has gained custody of his oldest daughter, he said.
"He made a number of mistakes in a short period of time and wants to redeem himself."
Boyer "has been rediscovering his roots and culture."
He is participating in ceremonies and powwows and that's how he wants to raise his daughter.
"I'd just like to apologize for my actions," Boyer told the judge.
“It was very foolish of me," he said. "I owe everyone an apology for taking up their time and resources."
When he imposed sentence, Condon said, after reading the Gladue and pre-sentence reports, it's clear "you're not the same person you were in July and August."
He noted Boyer is looking after his daughter, has shown responsibility and has matured.
"To your credit you have overcome a very difficult background," Condon told him. "The onus is on you now."
Condon warned that if he breaches the conditional sentence he could go to jail and everything he has accomplished could come unravelled.
Boyer's actions put the police and others in danger.
"It's almost like you picked the busiest streets in town," the judge said, questioning why he would behave like that in front of police.
During the first four months of his sentence, Boyer will be under house arrest.
He can only leave his residence for medical emergencies, to work and to take his daughter to and from school.
He can be out Mondays from noon to 3 p.m. to obtain the necessities of life.
During the last four months, he will have a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.
A conditional sentence is jail in the community, so Boyer must not consume alcohol or have drugs.
He also can't occupy the driver's seat of a vehicle.
Condon also imposed a three-year driving prohibition.
"The driving here was so horrendous I believe this will be sending a message."
On Monday, Boyer also pleaded guilty to an Oct. 15, 2022 HTA offence for driving while his licence was suspended.
He was fined $700, and with the court costs, he must pay a total penalty of $825.