FROM: Aylmer Police Service                        DATE:  29 DEC 20                 

Additional Charges laid in relation to Church service on 27DEC20.

On Sunday, Dec 27^th, 2020 Aylmer Police attended a Church service taking place on John St. N.  At that time a summons was served on a 37 yr old Malahide for contravening the Re-Opening Ontario Act.

Subsequent to the summons being issued, several participants at this event, surrounded a police vehicle with an officer inside and prevented the officer from leaving the premise.  It was not until an additional officer arrived on scene to assist did these participants disperse. Video footage from this event has been examined and charges have now been laid.

On December 28^th, 2020 a 37 yr old Malahide male attended the Aylmer Police Station and was arrested for the offence(s) of Obstructing a Peace Officer, and Intimidation of a Justice Participant (Police Officer).  The male was processed at the Aylmer Police Station and released on an Undertaking, returnable in January at the Elgin County Courthouse.

(2) Other males have been identified and arrest warrants have been issued for a 33 yr old male from North York, and a 25 yr old male from Toronto.

FROM: Aylmer Police Service                        DATE:  27 DEC 20                 

Charges laid against local Church for contravention of Re-Opening Ontario Act.

On Sunday, December 27^th, police received several complaints regarding a drive in Church Service taking place at a Church located on John St. N, in Aylmer.   The complaint(s) were in relation to persons gathering outside vehicles for the purposes of a Religious Service.

On December 26^th, 2020 at 12:01 am, the Province of Ontario implemented a Province – Wide Shut Down that resulted in further restrictions.  In relation to Religious Services, the Province stated that Weddings, Funerals, and other Religious Services, rites or ceremonies, where physical distancing can be maintained, these events were restricted to:

• 10 persons indoors
• 10 persons outdoors

Drive in services, rites or ceremonies permitted subject to conditions.

Officers attended this location and found that a contravention of the continued emergency order was taking place and as a result, a summons was issued to a 37 yr old male for the charge of host an event exceeding number permitted under continued section 7.0.2 order, in addition a summons is to be served on the Church organization. These summonses are returnable to a court date later in January 2021.

At this same time, officers located numerous vehicles parked along the roadway that were peacefully demonstrating and protesting in support of the wearing of masks.  Due to safety concerns and roadway congestion, police moved along 15-20 vehicles.

FROM: Aylmer Police Service                        DATE:  27 DEC 20                 

Open Liquor Charges.  

On December 22, at 6:50 pm officers responded to a local restaurant drive thru that was reporting a vehicle was waiting for their order and that open alcohol was observed in the vehicle. Police attended and spoke with the occupants. Two cans of Smirnoff Berry Blast were located open in vehicle approx. half full. As a result a 31 yr. old male and a 34 yr. old male from Langton were both charged with having an open container of liquor in other than a licenced premise, residence or private place contrary to the Liquor Licence Act.

Impaired Driving

On Friday, December 25, 2020, at 1:30 am officers on patrol observed a suspicious motor vehicle driving northbound on Elm Street towards the industrial area. The vehicle was observed to be spinning its tires doing “do-nuts” on the roadway.  A traffic stop of the vehicle was initiated which determined a 22 yr old male from Springfield, was operating the motor vehicle.  An odour of alcoholic beverage was detected and the male was required to provide a  breath sample into the approved roadside screening device.  A fail was registered and the male was taken into custody.  Breath samples back at the station determined the male’s blood alcohol concentration was 2 times the legal limit.  The male was later released with a court date, issued a 90 day licence suspension and the vehicle was impounded for 7 days