Canadian Security Magazine

Revellers threw bottles, climbed trees at St. Paddy’s Day party in Waterloo

By The Canadian Press   

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WATERLOO, Ont. — Police said they made multiple arrests Sunday after revellers threw bottles at officers, climbed trees and turned rowdy during an unlicensed street party celebrating St. Patrick's Day in the university town of Waterloo, Ont.

Details on how many charges they laid and fines they issued, as well as the number of people taken to hospital, will be available in the coming days, officials said.

Waterloo regional police estimate that more than 20,000 people crowded a stretch of road that officers had to shut down to account for the crowds.

Images on social media show shoulder-to-shoulder crowds speckled with green hats in honour of the holiday.

Const. Ashley Dietrich said one officer was sent to hospital after he fell while dealing with the party.

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“We were disappointed with some of the members in attendance,” she said. “We saw behaviours such as individuals throwing bottles at officers or people in the crowd, individuals pulling out trees, hanging from trees. We saw a lot of open liquor as well as underagers consuming alcohol.”

The event is a yearly tradition that puts public safety at risk and takes up police, fire and paramedic resources, Dietrich said.

“Long ago it was a very manageable event where we saw a couple thousand people participating,” she said. “But now it’s grown quite considerably.”

While the city is home to a college and two universities — with the site of the party on Wilfrid Laurier University’s campus — Dietrich said it’s likely that some people came from out of town to attend the event.

News from © Canadian Press Enterprises Inc. 2019


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