Cameraman gets attacked with bear spray while filming a homeless camp

A freelance journalist had a tough day at work while getting some footage for an assignment.

Kevin MacDonald was shooting the Abbotsford homeless camp from across the street on Wednesday morning, following the B.C. Supreme Court’s rejection of “the city’s bid to shut down the camp,” The Province reports.

A woman from the camp wasn’t happy about it and sprayed MacDonald with bear mace. He managed to keep the camera rolling and captured the whole incident on video.

In MacDonald’s footage, a woman crosses the street carrying a black canister.

“We don’t want our f***ing picture taken,” the woman yells. “Come and ask us. Don’t stand across the street and take f***ing pictures.”

During the heated exchange, MacDonald tells her there’s nothing illegal about filming in a public place.

That’s when the woman sprays bear mace in MacDonald’s direction and walks away.

He told The Province that it felt like his face “was on fire … it’s the most excruciating pain I have every felt in my entire life.”

MacDonald tweeted pictures of himself following the attack. In the first one, right after he got sprayed, he comments that he “can’t see.” Five hours later, his eyes are still red.

The Abbotsford Police Department charged 39-year-old Christina Bentley with assault, CBC News reports.

Abbotsford police spokesman Const. Ian MacDonald told The Province that it appears the cameraman “acted appropriately, he’s doing his job, and obviously, we think the response by this suspect is criminal, and that’s why we arrested her.”

The Abbotsford homeless camp has been a source of tension for awhile. The city is against them camping on public property, but the Supreme Court sided with the homeless.

Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson told BuzzFeed Canada that the city can’t kick them out because it would violate their Charter rights to security of the person.