Fireworks shot at crowd, beer bottle injuries during homecoming gatherings: Guelph police

KITCHENER -

Guelph police have released new details surrounding their response to the gatherings in the city during homecoming weekend, like how it cost well over $30,000 in additional officer deployment.

In a Wednesday news release, officials said there were 310 calls for service between Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. and Sept. 26 at 3 a.m. In a typical 24 hour time period, police will get around 200 calls for services.

Of the 310 calls, Guelph police say 50 were noise complaints, 29 involved open liquor, and numerous fines were handed out for hosting gatherings, attending gatherings, public urination, and public intoxication.

"Everyone was just chanting, running around, pushing shopping carts," said Larissa Kouroukis, who lives on Chancellors Way. "It was crazy."

During a gathering of around 1,000 people on Chancellors Way, seven people were taken to hospital for reasons ranging from extreme intoxication to being hit by a beer bottle.

Officials cited the constant throwing of beer bottles by those in attendance as a safety issue that made it difficult for first responders to manage the event.

"Once there is a large crowd like that, it's very difficult for officers to sort of move them along or ticket everyone attending," said Scott Tracey with Geulph police.

Police describe an incident of a bottle being thrown from an apartment window, landing on a cruiser a foot away from officers, but not being able to identify who threw it.

Around 12:30 a.m., when there were around 1,200 people at the street party, police say they arrested a 19-year-old from Mississauga after he shot a firework up, then proceeded to point it at a crowd, run to them as it went off, all while the cluster of people scattered away. No one was injured from this incident.

Guelph police also describe an incident where officers in a cruiser were surrounded by a crowd who were banging on the windows, screaming, and yelling.

"The University will continue to work with Guelph Police, the City of Guelph, and other community partners on addressing this problem," a spokesperson said in a statement. "The majority of our students behave responsibly and appropriately and were not involved in the Sept. 25 gathering on Chancellor's Way (sic). It's unfortunate that the many positive contributions students make to our community are being overshadowed by the negative events associated with this unsanctioned gathering."

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the City of Guelph announced it was increasing fines under the Nuisance Party Bylaw from $500 to $750 following a slew of complaints.

In a release, officials said the city has received 293 complaints for noise and nuisance parties since the start of September.

The new fines came into effect on Monday.

“We requested an increase in fines for our Nuisance Party Bylaw based on what happened this past weekend and throughout September,” Scott Green, Guelph's manager of corporate and community safety, said in a release. “This increase shows how serious we are about protecting our neighbourhoods, residents and first responders.”

Nuisance party hosts are guests are also subject to fines under the Reopening Ontario Act, which brings a $750 fine for failing to comply with restrictions and a $10,000 fine for hosting a gathering that exceeds COVID-19 gathering limits.

Indoor private gatherings are currently limited to 25 people.

Nuisance parties can be reported to Guelph police using the non-emergency line at 519-824-1212.

Parking, noise and garbage complaints can be directed to Guelph's bylaw team at 519-837-2529.