Brantford police lay a dozen charges in connection to illegal gatherings

Brantford police say they have laid a dozen charges in connection to illegal gatherings over the long weekend.

In a release Wednesday, police said the charges follow two large gatherings in the city over the weekend.

The first was on April 2, outside of the John Noble Home on Mount Pleasant Street, while the second was on April 3, in the area of Wayne Gretzky Parkway and Henry Street.

In a tweet posted by an account under the name of No More Lockdowns Canada, photos from the April 3 gathering show a crowd consisting of hundreds of people standing close together in a parking lot.

Thanks to the Brantford Local Action Group and attendees for the great photos of the unveiling yesterday," reads the tweet. So many in attendance and such a great atmosphere."

A video posted to Facebook of the same event shows many of the attendees were not wearing masks. Many were holding signs, while others were carrying Canadian flags.

Police said officers attended" and monitored" both events. The organizers were identified by police and 12 charges were laid under the Reopening Ontario Act. Those charged were not named.

(Brantford police) recognizes the Charter protected right of any group to assemble peacefully in order to draw public attention to a specific cause so long as such a gathering does not breach any applicable statutes or municipal bylaws," stated the release. Any gathering, regardless of its intended purpose, which is over the legal limit, will merit an appropriate police response in order to enhance community safety concerns."

Gatherings of more than five people were not allowed over the weekend under the province's emergency shutdown.

The investigation into the gatherings is ongoing, said police. Additional charges may be laid.

Fallon Hewitt is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: fhewitt@thespec.com