More charges have been laid in connection to an anti-lockdown rally in Chatham a week and a half ago.
Municipal CAO Don Shropshire says there have now been five charges laid, although no specifics have been released.
“Really it’s a matter of reviewing the information that they have available to determine whether people were lawfully protesting and exercising that right, or whether they were doing something that was contrary to the health guidelines and putting people’s safety and health at risk.”
Shropshire says there is the potential for more charges in the coming days and weeks.
“People that are involved with enforcement, they actually have up to six months to determine whether or not there’s charges, so it’s not to say that’s the only number there’s going to be or whether there’s going to be additions in the future, I would expect most of that information is before police and our bylaw enforcement people now.”
Meantime, no charges have been laid in connection to the April 30 “Opening Day” event promoted on social media encouraging businesses to violate the anti-COVID measures.
However, municipal officials say the organizer announced the event was cancelled due to lack of interest. Chatham-Kent Police, Public Health Inspectors and By-Law enforcement officers all conducted inspections of the businesses associated with the event, but none were found to be in violation of the provincial regulations.
The Opening Day event has been rescheduled to May 25th, after the current stay-at-home order is expected to be lifted.