Gerry Kahrmann, Postmedia News A Canucks fan that numerous online sites have identified as Nathan Kotylak works to light a police car on fire after a crowd rioted following Vancouver’s loss to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley Cup final on Wednesday.
Photograph by: Gerry Kahrmann, PNG
VANCOUVER — For Nathan Kotylak, the boy photographed attempting to light a police car on fire during the Vancouver Stanley Cup riots, the consequences have been swift, public and severe.
The 17-year-old star athlete’s family fled their home on Thursday night to an undisclosed location after their address appeared online, and the family received threats.
On Sunday, Kotylak released a statement through his lawyer, apologizing and taking full responsibility for his actions.
“It was his choice to come forward,” said Bart Findlay, the lawyer representing Kotylak. “Nathan felt very strongly that he needed to make an apology. He feels horrible about what has happened.”
Although the 17-year-old’s photos and identity has been beamed around the world through social media sites, his identity in traditional media is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
On Friday, Kotylak made an application to provincial youth court to seek permission to come forward, said Findlay.
In a written statement, the youth apologizes to his friends, family, teammates, the Vancouver police and the public for “becoming part of the mob mentality that swept through members of the crowd” after the Vancouver Canucks lost the Stanley Cup.
He states that he could have “taken shelter as a young offender” but that he asked his father to allow him to go public.
In the statement, Kotylak offers no excuses, states an intention to “atone for what I did” and expresses remorse and shame. He also urges other riot participants to come forward.
Kotylak has been provisionally suspended from the national water polo team, and did not attend his high school convocation ceremonies last week.
In the statement he says he knows he will soon be facing charges in court, that there have been serious consequences already, and that he expects there to be more.
Findlay said “obviously this is an extremely difficult time for him.”
He describes Kotylak as “a really outstanding young man” who has never been in trouble with the law, and never had so much as a speeding ticket.
Findlay said the young man’s father, a Maple Ridge, B.C., surgeon, has had to temporarily close his medical office.
“The mob mentality that took place at the riots is now happening on social media. The family is very disturbed . . . they have concerns for their safety.”
In his statement, Kotylak said he made some “very bad decisions” as some people in the crowd started getting out of control, and went “from spectator to becoming part of the mob mentality that swept through the crowd.”
Given the massive public backlash and the extremity of the personal attacks against Kotylak on social media, Findlay said “It’s extremely remarkable that he has the courage to come forward.”
Vancouver Sun
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