Kelly Blake Torvik
Image Credit: Facebook
January 25, 2020 - 7:00 AM
A North Okanagan man who didn't get jail time after he was the centre of an armed stand-off with police that involved nearby houses being evacuated, was back in court Thursday, Jan. 23, charged with assault.
Kelly Blake Torvik, born 1985, was at the centre of a high-profile armed siege that took place at his mother's house in Coldstream in February 2018. The stand-off lasted 19 hours, and nearby properties were evacuated and streets closed as police negotiated with Torvik who had said he was armed and wanted to die. He eventually surrendered peacefully.
Torvik was sentenced in July 2018 and got no jail time, instead receiving an 18-month conditional sentence in the community with strict conditions.
Torvik was charged Jan. 15 for one count of assault. The alleged assault took place Dec. 19, 2019 and the victim does not appear to be a family member.
In March 2019, Torvik was arrested for failing to show up to a psychiatric appointment, a condition of his sentence. He was released and no action was taken for his breach.
Following the stand-off in July 2018, Torvik pled guilty to five charges, including assault with a weapon, uttering threats and using a firearm. During the sentencing, the court heard how Torvik had pushed his mother to the floor and pointed a gun at her. He'd also sent texts saying he wanted to die by police suicide. At the time of the offence, Torvik was in a drug-induced state and said he has no recollection of the events. He made an emotional apology in court and said he wanted to turn his life around.
Torvik is due back in court Feb. 6 on the assault charge.
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