NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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The Niagara Regional Police Service continues to work with Municipal and Regional by-law enforcement partners in the on-going enforcement of Emergency Orders in regards to COVID-19.
On Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, members of the 2 District (Niagara Falls) Uniform Branch as well as members of the 2 District (Niagara Falls) Detective Services unit were called to a hotel in the area of Fallsview Boulevard and Murray Street in the City of Niagara Falls in regards to an unwanted person. When they arrived, a gathering was discovered in one of the rooms of over 30 persons, with many in attendance not wearing face coverings.
Detectives commenced an investigation into the unlawful gathering as defined by the Reopening Ontario (a Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act. The subsequent investigation revealed that a similar incident occurred on Dec. 5, involving over 20 young adults.
Both gatherings required police to intervene and all those in attendance were eventually evicted.
As a result of the investigation, two people were charged with failing to comply with a continued section 7.0.2 order.
A 21-year-old male as well as an 18-year-old female, both from the City of Niagara Falls, are facing charges under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act as social gatherings are limited to under 10 people per premise, with a resulting fine of $880.
Since they have been fined under Provincial legislation and not charged under the Criminal Code, their names are not being released.
The investigation also resulted in the arrest of one individual for not leaving the premise when directed to do so under provisions of sec. 2(1)(b) of the Trespass to Property Act.
The Niagara Regional Police Service has been working in cooperation and collaboration with our community partners which includes Regional and Municipal by-law officials since the beginning of the pandemic in the enforcement of Emergency Orders.
The NRPS joins Public Health Officials in calling on Niagara residents and visitors to Niagara to adhere to the Emergency Orders to prevent the spread of the virus.
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