Pokemon Go players shot at with pellet gun in Newmarket

Police seize handgun-like device and arrest 29-year-old woman

Mere hours after York Regional Police announced that Pokemon Go players had been attacked with a pellet gun and a woman had been arrested, enthusiasts of the wildly popular new game were out in force in Newmarket on Monday afternoon.

Police were called to the area near Main St. S. and Water St. at about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday after reports of Pokemon Go players being shot at near one of the city’s many Pokestops, police said in the state- ment Monday.

No one was hit and there were no injuries, police said.

Witnesses directed police to a two-storey apartment on Main St., where a woman was allegedly shooting a handgunstyle pellet gun from the roof at the crowd of Pokemon Go players, police said.

Officers entered the building, arrested a 29-year-old woman and seized a pellet gun, police said.

Sarah Bowes, an 18-year-old server who works at a restaurant across the street, said she saw the arrest. “I saw a bunch of police officers and cars all lined up along the street.”

“The SWAT team kicked in the door,” Bowes said.

“I noticed her in handcuffs. They took her to the police station (which is just down the street). I think they made her walk,” Bowes said.

Patricia Champagne of Newmarket is facing one charge of assault with a weapon and one charge of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, York Regional Police said.

Police have not confirmed in which building the arrest took place, nor would they confirm whether Champagne has been released. Bowes said she knows the woman who was arrested, as did most of the staff at Cachet Restaurant and Bar. The woman had never caused any problems, Bowes said.

Despite Saturday night’s attack, Pokestops (locations, often local landmarks, where players can stock up on the digital supplies needed for the game) in Newmarket were busy Monday afternoon with dozens of players braving the heat, trying to capture the virtual wild monsters.

Pokemon Go has quickly become a phenomenon since it was released this month. The game, which involves players using their phones and the app to catch mythical characters, has become one of the most popular games in the world.

While most players didn’t witness Saturday night’s shooting, many were quick to say how frustrated they were to hear about it.

“It absolutely blew my mind,” said Eddie Yim, 26, shaking his head.

Yim didn’t see the shooting Saturday, but said he and friends were out catching Pokemon in the area that evening.

“At least this isn’t America, where they have real guns,” Yim said.

Yim’s friend Graham Coulter, also 26, said there were between 50 and 100 players at the Pokestop near Main St. and Water St. Saturday night.

There were about 150 more clustered a few blocks farther up Main St. near Newmarket’s clock tower, Coulter said.

“Honestly, it sounds like a disgruntled person who just doesn’t want to get on the bandwagon,” Coulter said.

He said the number of anti-Pokemon incidents in recent days worries him, especially someone brazen enough to shoot pellets at a large group of people.

It’s not enough to keep him from playing or make him feel unsafe, but

“It absolutely blew my mind. At least this isn’t America, where they have real guns.” EDDIE YIM POKEMON GO PLAYER ON HEARING ABOUT THE INCIDENT

it’s something to keep in mind, he said.

“You don’t think about something like this happening when you’re in groups, like at a Raptors game our outside the Rogers Centre,” Coulter said. “I guess you just have to be extra vigilant.”