Police made 17 arrests, laid over 250 charges during St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Waterloo

Police laid more than 250 charges and arrested 17 people in Waterloo during a large street party in the University district to celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Saturday.

Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) Chief Mark Crowell laid out the summary during a police board meeting on Wednesday.

Crowell said at its peak, the crowd size on Marshall Street ballooned to between 20,000 and 25,000 people.

Policing that many people "requires considerable resources, not only from police, additional police partners that assisted us, but also all of the other emergency service partners," he told media during the meeting. 

"It has impacts on the work that we're doing within that vicinity, but throughout the region and also into our health-care system and other community supports as well," he said.

Crowell confirmed that between 5 p.m. on March 13 and 3:30 a.m. on March 18, officers responded to more than 450 calls, resulting in over 250 charges and 17 arrests. 

The charges included:

• 168 Highway Traffic Act charges, including: Novice driver BAC above zero, unnecessary noise, driving while under suspension, careless driving.
• 35 Liquor Licence and Control Act charges, including: Being intoxicated in a public place.
• 19 Criminal Code charges, including: Operation while impaired, assault, dangerous operation, sexual assault, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, disobeying a court order (injunction).

Police say a full report will be released to the police service board at their meeting scheduled for April 16.

In the meantime, police officials say they will continue to analyze footage from various cameras that may result in additional charges for those who participated in the unsanctioned gathering. 

The summary comes a day after the City of Waterloo outlined the number of fines given out by bylaw enforcement. 

Bylaw officers responded to 129 complaints and issued 36 fines in relation to the Marshall Street gathering during the St. Patrick's Day weekend.

According to a news release sent out Tuesday, the fines were issued between 5 p.m. on March 15 and 7 a.m. March 18, totalling $25,200.

WATCH | Hundreds of St. Patrick's day party goers took to the streets despite court injunction:

Waterloo's University District was a sea of green for St. Patrick's Day, despite injunction

4 days ago

Duration 0:51

Hundreds of students gathered on Marshall Street on Saturday in Waterloo's University District to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. A court injunction allowing police to detain and arrest anyone attending an unsanctioned street party in that city this weekend didn't stop the gathering. Police would not say if anyone was arrested, but a spokesperson told CBC News they "encourage those planning to celebrate, to do so in smaller gatherings, at licensed establishments, or at home."

Inaugural injunction use 

This year's plan to address the street parties was a first-of-its-kind approach as the City of Waterloo was granted an injunction order by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. 

That meant police were allowed to detain, arrest and charge anyone participating in unsanctioned street parties. 

Leading up the weekend, police said they hoped the injunction would deter students from taking part in the historically massive street party.

Still, thousands of party-goers flooded Marshall Street on Saturday to take part in the mass festivities. 

Of the 17 arrests made, Crowell said only one was made under the rule of the injunction.

"There was one criminal charge for disobeying court orders directly related to the nuisance bylaw," he said. 

Crowell added he feels the injunction was justified, saying it was a test run "for planning any type of gathering moving forward, not just St, Patrick's Day, but homecoming and other gatherings."

Ian McLean, the police board chair, called the party "a disgrace."

"[It's] really troubling and very disappointing that students decided that their social time is more important that public safety," said McLean, who is also the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.

"This is a safety issue. It always has been ... not only road safety, but putting at risk other people in the community is just a disgrace."

Police preparation 

Police say they spent several months developing a substantial operational plan which included the use of emergency response resources from:

• The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
• City of Waterloo bylaw.
• Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services.
• Waterloo Fire Rescue.
• Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
• Wilfrid Laurier University Special Constable Services.

In an emailed statement to CBC News, police explained that throughout Saturday morning and early afternoon, there were small gatherings located on private property but the people involved were respectful and law-abiding. 

That apparently changed around 2 p.m.

"At about 2:45 p.m., a large crowd was observed descending off the sidewalk and onto Marshall Street in what we believed was a planned, organized attempt to take over the street," reads the release. 

"We are disappointed in the decision made by the individuals who selfishly tied up critical emergency service response throughout Waterloo region."