170 charges and tickets, 19 arrests in Waterloo for St. Patrick's Day
Waterloo regional police say they handed out 147 charges and arrested 19 people at the large unsanctioned street party in Waterloo on St. Patrick’s Day.
Updated numbers from police released on Monday said there were 328 calls for service between 8 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday.
More than 4,000 people came out for the first big party in Waterloo’s University District since 2019. There were no large parties in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
Ezra Avenue, the site of former St. Patrick’s Day gatherings, was blocked off with fencing. So, partiers instead gathered on Marshall Street.
Police call the fences a “pro-active investment” that sent a strong message of discouraging unsanctioned events.
In an interview with CTV News, Chief Bryan Larkin called the police response to St. Patrick's Day "overall, a remarkable operational success.”
Here is a breakdown of the charges:
- Liquor Licence and Control Act: 90
- Highway Traffic Act: 29
- Trespass to Property Act: 3
- Criminal Code: 19
- Bylaws: 2
- Controlled Drugs and Substances Act: 2
- Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act: 1
- Environmental Act: 1
Between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Sunday, police said they had 224 calls for service, resulting in 46 charges and three arrests.
The City of Waterloo issued a further 23 charges and tickets:
- Nuisance noise (summons): 5
- Nuisance gatherings (summons): 9
- Noise bylaw: 6
- Nuisance (bodily emissions): 2
- Business licensing: 1 (summons)
The city said Wilfrid Laurier University special constables issued 69 provincial offence notices; 43 were given to non-students and 26 to Laurier students.
Regional paramedics responded to 37 calls from noon until 2 a.m on St. Patrick’s Day. Eighteen people were transported to hospital, seven considered serious.
“All of the calls that we did … were all alcohol, all too much to drink,” said Deputy Chief Rob Crossan with Paramedic Services.
He said unsanctioned gatherings put a strain on resources, as ambulances are unable to drive on roads that are taken over by pedestrians.
“That takes a team of four to six police officers, four paramedics to go in from our Crowd Response Team on foot to go in and retrieve this person and carry them out of the crowd to where we can get a vehicle in close.”
“Large gatherings pose both a health and safety risk to those in attendance and to the entire community,” Chief Bryan Larkin said in a news release. “We are disappointed that, despite encouraging individuals to celebrate responsibly in smaller gatherings or licenced establishments, many opted to gather on the street, forcing road closures. As we move forward, we will continue to work together with our community partners to find alternatives to this unlawful gathering.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Baby boom amongst nurses leads to maternity ward closure in Listowel, Ont.
The emergency room at Listowel’s hospital is open today, but come summer, their obstetrics unit will be temporarily closing its delivery rooms.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
'We won't forget': How some Muslims view Poilievre's stance on Israel-Hamas war
A spokesman for a regional Muslim advocacy group says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's stance on the Israel-Hamas war could complicate his party's relationship with Muslim Canadians.