Angry mob of Brampton partiers attack by-law officer
Published May 19, 2021 at 3:27 pm
A group of volleyball playing partiers at a Brampton home attacked a bylaw officer who was called in to enforce social distancing rules.
According to reports, the officer had to take refuge in his car while he was surrounded by a mob of 15 people who were angry that he had come to break up their fun. The incident took place within the past week.
Although Peel Regional Police cannot confirm the circumstance, reports indicate the officer went to the home after several complaints were received from neighbours about a large, loud house party where guests were taking part in a volleyball game.
When he arrived at the scene, the bylaw officer attempted to warn the partiers that they were breaking social distancing rules. That’s when he was shoved and threatened, according to reports, and chased from the home where he sought the protection of his car while he continued to be confronted.
Paul Morrison, Brampton’s Director of Enforcement and By-Law Services confirmed the assault during a media briefing today.
“I can tell you that it happened in a residential area,” said Morrison. “We responded to calls of complaints by the neighbourhood. We attended and our officer was confronted by a couple of people and subsequently 15 people that had been socially gathering and drinking. We requested the Peel Regional Police attend, they did attend. They assisted us in identifying people in the party and we did subsequently charge some people. During the altercation our officer was threatened and at one point he had to go into his car and leave the area because the escalating anger of the crowd.”
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The names of the people charged have not been released. It is not known why the names and the charges are not being made public.
At the same media briefing, Brampton City councillor Harkirat Singh said by-law enforcement officers handed out 33 charges in the past week concerning infractions surrounding COVID-19 restrictions, including 22 businesses that were operating illegally.
Singh said large parties in houses and workplaces continue to be a problem in Brampton and that in the past year by-law officers have had to endure verbal threats and physical assaults while responding to 2,200 social gathering complaints.
In the past month, there are have three reported incidents of by-law officers being assaulted in Brampton.
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