Kitchener to discuss Victoria Day safety after teen charged with shooting fireworks into crowd
Waterloo regional police have charged a teen after they say fireworks were shot at people and buildings in Victoria Park in Kitchener on Monday.
A 14-year-old was arrested and charged with assault and possession of a weapon, police say.
Police said there were also large crowds of people seen blocking roadways and businesses on Monday. A press release from the Waterloo regional police service said some people also shot fireworks out of moving vehicles and directly at police.
WRPS said it took four hours, additional bylaw officers and more than 19 police officers to disperse the large crowd that had gathered in the park for Victoria Day fireworks.
Debbie Chapman is the councillor for Ward 9, which includes Victoria Park. She says she's heard many concerns and complaints from residents living in the area.
"People were perplexed. They didn't quite understand what was going on and what was driving the youth to behave in this way," she said.
Empty fireworks casings were left behind around Victoria Park in Kitchener after police say a large number of youths gathered with fireworks on Monday. (Aastha Shetty/CBC)
"They were concerned about the safety of their kids and themselves as they saw this rush of young people going down their street. One woman said, 'our street was an absolute zoo.' Somebody else said that they were concerned that a similar thing might occur on Canada Day."
Gloria MacNeil, the city's director of enforcement, said city staff and bylaw will be having discussions over the next two weeks to figure out how they could prepare for similar situations in the future.
"I don't think the situation is unique to Kitchener. I've seen some news clips of Toronto as well [Monday] night that were similar," she said, adding that they will be working with police to prevent any gatherings next Victoria Day.
Empty beer cans were seen strewn across Victoria Park in Kitchener after a fireworks incident involving a large number of youth on Monday. (Aastha Shetty/CBC)
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic sent CBC News an emailed statement saying he is "deeply concerned by the level of reckless hooliganism experienced from a significant group of young people in Victoria Park and on surrounding streets," adding that the fireworks caused "undue stress and harm to our community."
Charges laid during large gathering last year
This is not the first time police have responded to an incident involving fireworks at Victoria Park on Victoria Day.
WRPS investigated reports of dangerous conditions, weapons and assault during last year's Victoria Day as well.
They had charged two men with assault and causing a disturbance after approximately 500 people gathered in the park, expecting to see fireworks.
It took police two hours to disperse the large crowd that day.
A Kitchener bylaw officer and a WRPS officer had suffered lower-body injuries after they were struck by fireworks. Police say there were also other disturbances that day, involving weapons and fires.
