Charges have been laid following a church service in Dresden this past weekend.
Police were called to the Old Colony Mennonite Church on Grove Mills Line Sunday morning, where officers found 56 cars in the parking lot, and more than 70 people were seen leaving the building, none of whom were wearing masks.
A 38-year-old Dresden man has now been charged with failing to comply with the provincial stay-at-home order under the Reopening Ontario Act. He’ll be in court on June 16
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Chatham-Kent Police say an investigation into a gathering at the Wheatley church this past Sunday remains under investigation.
Charges were laid against a member of the Old Colony Mennonite Church in Wheatley last month and twice back in December for breaking provincial COVID restrictions.
Charge laid after dozens attend church in Dresden: police
After the service, around 73 people were spotted leaving the church, none of whom were wearing masks, according to police
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Posted: May 06, 2021 11:42 AM ET | Last Updated: May 6
After the service, around 73 people were spotted leaving the church, none of whom were wearing masks, according to police.(Chatham-Kent Police Service)
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A member of the Old Colony Mennonite Church in Dresden has been charged under the Reopening Ontario Act after more than 70 maskless people reportedly attended a service on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Dresden man was charged Wednesday night with failing to comply with the act. He must attend provincial offences court June 16.
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A Chatham-Kent police officer went to the church on Grove Mills Line on Sunday after receiving a report of a large gathering. The officer saw 56 cars in the parking lot and more cars arriving, police said.
WINDSOR, ONT. A second charge has been laid following an anti-lockdown event in Chatham on April 26. On top of the first charge from last week, Chatham-Kent’s Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire said bylaw enforcement have another seven investigations underway “People with enforcement have up to six months to lay a charge,” said Shropshire. A group of about 300 mask-less demonstrators and frustrated Ontarians gathered in Tecumseh Park for a noon hour rally organized by the “No More Lockdowns Canada” group, which toured the region. Those in attendance expressed frustration with the province’s stay-at-home orders, worried the measures had taken away rights and freedoms.
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A second person has been charged and seven more investigations are underway in connection with an anti-lockdown protest held last week in Chatham, says Chatham-Kent’s top administrator.
Neither person charged has been publicly identified by Chatham-Kent’s bylaw enforcement team.
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Chief administrative officer Don Shropshire didn’t know the status of the investigations Thursday. Bylaw enforcement officers act independently from municipal administration, he said.
Bylaw and building inspector Travis Maxwell also could not provide more information to the Daily News.