Waterloo councillor ‘singed’ after being hit with firework

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A Waterloo councillor mentioned she was allegedly hit with a firework “intentionally” on Monday, considered one of a number of such incidents throughout the area throughout Canada Day celebrations.

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Julie Wright, who represents Ward 7 within the metropolis west of Toronto, mentioned on social media that she was returning residence from a drone present at Waterloo Park when she was hit within the face with a firework.

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“I am a little singed, but not significantly injured,” she mentioned Monday in a put up on X. “I was shot at multiple times and hit once. This firework insanity has to stop.”

Wright advised Newz9 she was with her household when she saw a man trying to light fireworks at McGregor Senior Public School, close to Central and Albert Sts., whereas households pushing child strollers and strolling their canine handed.

“So I yelled at him,” she advised Newz9, including her husband was in a position to get an image of the person and ship it to police. “I was like, ‘What the heck are you doing? Get out of there!’ And he just turned on me and started firing the Roman candles right at me.

“There were multiple fireworks, probably two to three of them. I got one in the ear.”

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Waterloo Regional Police, which mentioned they “take all such assaults very seriously” in a reply on X, charged a 37-year-old man from Kitchener on Wednesday with assault with a weapon and assault.

Waterloo Regional Police have been additionally investigating incidents Monday evening in Kitchener after a “large group” of youths have been allegedly setting off fireworks into crowds of individuals, together with youngsters and cops, at Victoria Park.

They mentioned in a single occasion a firework was set off beneath a child stroller, though the infant was not bodily injured.

“However, as a result, a fight broke out between two large groups of people,” mentioned Waterloo Regional Police, including that pepper spray was used to disperse the gang.

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Police charged a 17-year-old with assaulting a peace officer. They mentioned additionally they laid liquor expenses through the festivities and responded to a report of a theft the place a handgun was allegedly seen and an alleged swatting name that indicated a mass capturing would happen at Victoria Park with officers being a goal.

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Kitchener Mayor Barry Vrbanovic mentioned on Tuesday that he could be assembly with workers and the police to answer the incidents.

“Yesterday, thousands of people of all ages in downtown Kitchener and hundreds in Victoria Park celebrated Canada Day and all the things that make Canada great, without incident,” Vrbanovic mentioned in an announcement posted on X. “I was one of them. Let’s not lose sight of the awesomeness experienced by many throughout yesterday.

“Unfortunately, a small group of young people, later in the evening, chose to break the law and behave illegally, putting both people and property in danger.”

Anyone with data or video footage can contact 519-570-9777, Ext. 4499, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or waterloocrimestoppers.com.

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