Police lay charges at area churches

REGIONAL— The Chatham-Kent Police Service and Essex County OPP laid separate charges at three different area churches over the holidays.

On Sunday, December 27, shortly after 11:00 a.m., Chatham-Kent Police responded to the report of a large gathering at a church in the 22000 block of Chatham-Kent Rd. 1 north of Wheatley.

Upon police arrival, officers observed over 100 unmasked people inside the church. The current regulations for religious services only allows for 10 people indoors. The Municipal By-law also states that masks are required during worship.

A member of the church, a 50-year-old Merlin man, took responsibility for the gathering and was charged with failing to comply with a continued section 7.0.2 order, contrary to section 10(1)(a) of the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020. He will be required to attend court on January 27, 2021.

Everyone complied with the officers’ requests to end the church service early and leave the property.

A short distance away, on the same day, shortly after 9:00 a.m., Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Leamington officers responded to a complaint of ongoing church services in the 1300 block of Mersea Road 8, in which more than 10 people were attending contrary to current restrictions.

Upon police arrival, officers observed several people inside the church, well above current limits, and requested that the service be ended.

A 29-year-old from Leamington took responsibility for the gathering and was charged with failing to comply with a continued section 7.0.2 order, contrary to section 10(1)(a) of the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020. The matter is scheduled for February 4, 2020 in the Leamington Ontario Court of Justice.

A short time later another complaint was received and police attended the 700 block of Mersea Road 8, Leamington in response to a large gathering. Police requested the service be ended.

A 46 year-old from Chatham-Kent, a representative of the church, was charged with failing to comply with a continued section 7.0.2 order, contrary to section 10(1)(a) of the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020.

The matter is scheduled for February 4, 2020 in the Leamington Ontario Court of Justice.