After Bryan Babic jumped out the window of a Sault Ste. Marie hotel room, he did his best to hang on to his duffle bag.
Police soon learned why: it contained more than $14,000 in narcotics.
This discovery came as he was being transported to hospital, where officers also found he had $4,070 in cash on him.
Babic, 31, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking in connection with the May 21, 2020 incident.
Superior Court Justice Annalisa Rasaiah heard the accused, who was registered at the Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre, hurled himself out a second-floor window, breaking the glass.
The Mississauga man landed in a flower bed and then crawled into the lobby of the Great Northern Road hotel, federal prosecutor Ben Pritchard said.
Babic was injured and bleeding, and a bystander also thought he was high.
An employee called EMS, and police also were contacted, Pritchard said.
When he was being transported to the Sault Area Hospital, he insisted on keeping the bag on his stretcher — something that is not permitted — and the paramedics took it away from him.
As officers tried to locate his identification, the paramedics pointed to the bag.
When the cops opened it to get his ID, they spotted the drugs.
The bag contained 66 grams of cocaine and 1,500 tabs of benzodiazepines, Pritchard said.
The Crown and defence lawyer Eric McCooeye jointly recommended that Babic receive a conditional sentence of two years less a day, which would be served in the community.
Babic has no criminal record and has been described by his employer as a hardworking young man, McCooeye said.
"This is out of character for him."
There were a number triable issues, including the officers' search of the duffle bag, the defence told Rasaiah.
When she imposed the sentence, the judge said she is satisfied that it doesn't endanger the community and doesn't bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
During the first nine months of his sentence, Babic will be under house arrest.
He can only leave his residence for employment, medical emergencies and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to obtain the necessities of life and see his young daughter.
For the next nine months, Babic must comply with a 9 p.m. curfew.
The final six months require his compliance with statutory requirements, such as keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
During his sentence, Babic can't possess unlawful drugs and substances.
Rasaiah warned that if he violates the conditions of his sentence, he can be arrested and could end up serving the remaining time behind bars.
She imposed a 10-year weapons prohibition and also banned Babic from possessing prohibited weapons and ammunition for life.
Babic must provide a DNA sample for the national database.
As well, all items seized by the police will be forfeited to the Crown.
He must also pay a $400 victim surcharge.