House arrest for fan who incited fight at Jets game By: Chris Kitching Posted: 6:20 PM CDT Monday, Jul. 31, 2023

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This article was published 31/07/2023 (1127 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A brawl at a Winnipeg Jets game last year, which was caught on video and shared widely on social media and international news sites, was sparked by a couple who were being kicked out for loading up on drinks.

The Manitoba couple began fighting security guards and fellow hockey fans at the game — leaving a man bloodied — following complaints about drinking, a court heard.

Canada Life Centre security had warned Taylor Howell and then-girlfriend Sumerlyn McCulloch, who were drinking doubles, to slow down, behave and stop amassing alcoholic beverages, said Crown attorney Terry McComb.

“There’s a policy at the arena where you can only have a drink per person. What they’re doing is they’ve been told to stop, but they have been gathering extra drinks and placing them under their seats,” McComb told Howell’s sentencing hearing in Winnipeg provincial court July 25.

The brawl erupted when a third complaint about the couple’s conduct resulted in an ejection as the Jets played the Colorado Avalanche on Nov. 29, 2022.

Video footage showed a Jets fan hitting his head on the inside of the boards while he and Howell tumbled down several steps in an aisle.

Six staples were needed to close a 7.6-centimetre gash on the man’s head, court heard.

Two security guards and a Winnipeg police officer were injured.

“This was a very disturbing incident for all parties,” said McComb.

Howell, 34, pleaded guilty to assault and resisting arrest. A second assault charge was stayed.

Judge Brent Stewart handed him a 15-month conditional sentence, or house arrest with some exceptions, and 20 hours of community service.

“I don’t take this as minor,” said Stewart, who suspected there was a “significant amount of impairment” or else Howell is a “really angry” person.

Howell was banned from Canada Life Centre after the fight, court was told.

McCulloch, then 28, is facing three counts of assault and single counts of resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer. Her next court date is in March 2024.

Howell’s sentencing was told the situation rapidly escalated when he and McCulloch were asked to leave the downtown venue.

The Crown said McCulloch became aggressive with and bit a female guard, and Howell headbutted a male guard and repeatedly punched him in the face.

A Jets fan intervened and put Howell in a headlock. The pair wrestled and fell down the aisle.

McComb said Howell and McCulloch were combative and there was “spitting action” when police officers tried to remove them.

Court was told Howell continued to resist officers after being carried up the stairs.

The male guard had a bruised and swollen forehead and face, a nosebleed and a headache. He also complained about twisting his knee.

The female guard’s skin “broke” when she was bitten. She went on stress leave after the incident.

McComb said a police officer suffered an arm injury.

“This was a very disturbing incident for all parties.”–Crown attorney Terry McComb

While addressing the judge, Howell apologized for his actions, which he said stemmed from anger, frustration and concern for his girlfriend.

“You guys are making me sound like an animal, and I’m not,” he said.

Howell said he didn’t know why they were being kicked out, and there had been no warning.

He claimed the male guard was aggressive and “yanked” McCulloch out of her seat. He also claimed he allowed police to handcuff him while he was removed.

“There was a point where I was actually screaming for help. I was so scared and terrified, and I was getting roughed up pretty badly,” he told court.

“There was a point where I was actually screaming for help.”–Taylor Howell

Howell said he was sorry for what had happened to the fan who hit his head on the boards.

“But, if you watch the video, he put me in a pretty bad position where I was about to fall asleep, and I happened to get up and try to relieve (myself) from that position,” he said. “It’s unfortunate what happened. I didn’t want that, but that could easily have been me, too, that fell down the stairs.”

Howell, an Avalanche fan, was celebrating his birthday at the game with McCulloch and a couple of friends. He admitted to having a few drinks, but denied being “obliterated.”

Defence lawyer Jason Stitt told court Howell was “provoked” and became defensive when a security guard grabbed McCulloch.

As a result of the incident, Howell’s relationship ended, he almost lost his job and he was kicked out of his rented home, said the lawyer.

“The public has been nothing but harsh towards (Howell), and obviously not understanding where he’s coming from in defence of his girlfriend at the time.”–Defence lawyer Jason Stitt

Stitt also cited a backlash to the video clips.

“The public has been nothing but harsh towards (Howell), and obviously not understanding where he’s coming from in defence of his girlfriend at the time,” said Stitt.

McComb said the fight created an unsafe environment because all security staff and police officers in the arena responded to the incident.

“That meant there was no security elsewhere to really keep an eye on other things,” she said.

The game had an announced attendance of 13,510.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching