Police halt illegal gatherings at three region churches
Four people facing charges of failing to comply with Reopening Ontario Act
Two more local churches hosted large gatherings this week in violation of provincial regulations aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19, according to Essex County OPP.
Around 9 a.m. on Dec. 27, officers responded to a complaint about an ongoing church service in the 1300 block of Mersea Road 8 in Leamington.
Police didn't reveal how many parishioners they found in the church but said the number was “well above the current limits” of 10 people. Police also didn't name the place of worship, but the only church in the 1700 block of Mersea Road 8 is The Church of God. Officers requested that the church stop the service.
A 29-year-old from Leamington took responsibility for the gathering, according to investigators.
He was charged with failing to comply with the Reopening Ontario Act. Police did not identify the man.
Shortly after that, Essex County OPP received a complaint about a large gathering at another church in the 700 block of Mersea Road 8 in Leamington. Officers responded and asked those in attendance to end the service.
Again, police did not identify the church, but the only one along that stretch of road is Old Colony Mennonite Church.
Police said a church representative, a 46-year-old person from Chatham-kent, was charged with failing to comply with the Reopening Ontario Act. Investigators gave no other details about the person charged or the number of people at the church.
Police didn't say if the churchgoers at either gathering were taking any precautions, such as social distancing or wearing masks.
Around the same time those church services were going on, the Chatham-kent Police Service was also dealing with large church gatherings in Wheatley.
Police said Old Colony Mennonite Church — a different one at 22046 Wheatley Rd. — had indoor congregations of 100 unmasked people on two consecutive days.
The gatherings occurred on Dec. 26 and Dec. 27, police said.
Officers went to the church around 11 a.m. on both days after getting complaints from the public. The services were ongoing when officers arrived, police said, and no one was wearing a mask on either day.
On Dec. 26, a 50-year-old man from Merlin took responsibility for the gathering. Officers then asked that the church cut the service short. Everyone left the property without incident. Police didn't name the accused.
Despite the charge and a reprimand from officers, police said the same thing happened the next day. A 43-year-old Merlin man, who also wasn't identified, took responsibility for the second gathering.
Chatham-kent police said both men face charges of failure to comply with the Reopening Ontario Act.