Chatham-Kent police are working with the Crown to try and seek a court injunction to close down local Old Colony Mennonite Churches that keep defying COVID-19 laws by holding services.
Chief Gary Conn made the official announcement on Thursday and said that's possibly the next step of enforcement if the court injunction is granted after an education campaign that has lasted months with officers issuing several $880 fines and laying charges against various members of those congregations.
Chief Conn said two fines and five court summonses have been issued so far against members of the Old Colony Mennonite Church in Wheatley, members of the congregation in Dresden have received one fine and three summonses, and members of the church in Charing Cross have received two court summonses. Police have up to six months to issue a summons and those fines can range between $10,000 and $500,000 if an individual is found guilty under the Reopening Ontario Act.
Conn said police have taken the approach to only charge the organizers of the gathering instead of everyone attending the service because many of the people attending the large gathering probably wouldn't be there if it wasn't organized. He also said public and officer safety is taken into account because a large gathering can quickly become volatile if it's not handled properly.
"When you're dealing with large masses of people, all you require is one person to change the dynamics of a large mass of people and it can become volatile rather quickly," said Conn. "Thankfully, most people when we tell them that they need to disperse because they are not complying with the orders, they comply."
Overall, the chief said 20 fines and 15 court summonses have been handed out to those who have allegedly broken the COVID-19 rules.
Chief Conn said a court injunction could take weeks to be granted.
The chief is also urging the organizer of an outdoor market to be held at Tecumseh Park in Chatham this Saturday to reconsider her plan. Conn wants the Armoury Market to be postponed to a later date because COVID-19 restrictions are still very much in place.
Organizer Lisa Lester said the market is going ahead regardless because she believes the market is working within the rules, having half of the 30 booths selling food. However, Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire said several complaints have been filed about this event. He said people are upset it's being allowed and the Municipality is trying to be consistent.
Shropshire said events with food only, such as a farmer's market, are allowed because food is essential and therefore exempt from the COVID-19 restrictions but crafts events mixed with food vendors are not permitted. He added if the Armoury Market goes ahead, the organizer could get charged.
"Buying a craft or a scented candle is not considered essential. You really have to look at what type of service is being offered," said Shropshire.
Shropshire hopes things get worked out before Saturday.
Lester said on Friday that the market is not meant to be a protest and is being held to support local businesses.
"I want to make something very clear. At no time did I ever intend this to be a protest. Public health has spoken to all our food vendors to make sure that they're compliant. We are going to have a safe event. Our safety matters, our community safety matters. So, this weekend is going to be all about supporting our small businesses," she said.
Lester is asking everyone who attends to wear a mask and social distance.
She added late on Friday afternoon that 65 per cent of the vendors are offering packaged take away food and the food will not be eaten on site, which is permitted according to the current COVID-19 rules.