19 arrests, 147 charges from St. Patrick's Day street party in Waterloo

There were 19 arrests and 147 charges or tickets issued in connection with the St. Patrick's Day street party on Marshall Street in Waterloo, Ont., last Thursday, police say.

Of the charges and tickets from police: 

• 90 were under the Liquor Licence and Control Act.
• 29 were under the Highway Traffic Act.
• 19 were Criminal Code charges which included assault, obstructing a police officer, unauthorized possession of a weapon, assault with a weapon, forcible entry, impaired driving and mischief.
• Three were for trespassing.
• Two were bylaw infractions.
• Two were under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• One was under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act.
• One was under the Environmental Act.

The City of Waterloo issued the following court summonses:

• Nine for nuisance gathering.
• Five for nuisance noise.
• One for business licensing.

There were also six noise bylaw tickets and two for nuisance (bodily emissions). A bodily emission is defined in the city bylaw as to spit, vomit, urinate or defecate in public.

As well, special constables at Wilfrid Laurier University issued 69 provincial offence notices:

• 43 were given to non-students.
• 26 to Laurier students.

Police Chief Bryan Larkin of Waterloo regional police said in a release on Monday listing the charges that police were "disappointed" that people gathered on Marshall Street.

"Despite encouraging individuals to celebrate responsibly in smaller gatherings or licenced establishments, many opted to gather on the street, forcing road closures," Larkin said.

Party moved to Marshall Street this year

Police and the city had put fencing along Ezra Avenue, which in past years has been the site of a massive street party with thousands of people attending pre-COVID-19. For the past two years, the street parties have not taken place as people heeded the advice of health officials, police and the city to avoid large gatherings because of the virus.

This year, though, the party moved to Marshall Street. As a result, there were several road closures including Marshall Street between Regina and Brighton Streets for safety reasons and police asked people to avoid the area.

Young people who attended the party told CBC News they'd like to see a sanctioned event moving forward. The city has tried that previously in 2014 and 2015 by putting up a tent in a parking lot next to the KW Granite Club.

But what resulted was more young people coming to the city for St. Patrick's Day and the party on Ezra Avenue continued. In 2016, the city cancelled the tent event.

Larkin said in Monday's release that police will work with the city, fire and paramedics, and the universities "to find alternatives to this unlawful gathering."