West Vancouver Police kept busy with beachgoers, house party
Posted April 19, 2021 7:48 pm.
WEST VANOCUVER (NEWS 1130) — Police in West Vancouver had a busy weekend, starting with calls about people gathering on beaches, and ending with an anonymous report of a party being held in defiance of COVID-19 restrictions.
On Friday evening, calls began coming in about people having bonfires and drinking on the beach.
“Beach Patrol officers worked with West Vancouver Fire & Rescue to extinguish fires, and to remind people that open fires are not allowed in West Vancouver Parks or Beaches,” says Const. Kevin Goodmurphy in a statement.
“Officers also observed many people consuming alcohol in the park, and took the opportunity to remind them that consumption of liquor in public is not currently allowed in West Vancouver.”
On Saturday, police say their attempts to break up a group of young people who were smoking pot and drinking — all while not physically distant — ultimately resulted in two arrests.
Goodmurphy says officers generally issue warnings before writing tickets or taking other enforcement action.
However, in this case, police say at least one person in the group was not receptive to this approach.
“One man from the group became aggressive and began spitting toward officers and stepping into their personal space. When officers attempted to take him into custody for being intoxicated in public, another man from the group tried to intervene. Both men were arrested, after additional units were called,” a statement reads.
No charges were recommended, instead both young people were “released into the care of a sober adult.”
Looks like @VancouverPD weren’t the only ones busy over the weekend. @WestVanPolice says it responded to a number of beach fires and open drinking since Friday. On Sunday it went to a home along Southborough Dr. (near Kenwood Rd.) & ticketed a 46 y/o woman $2,630. #COVID19
— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) April 19, 2021
The West Vancouver Police Department is reminding people to expect to see more officers patrolling beaches as the weather gets warmer.
On Sunday, police were called to an indoor gathering at someone’s home.
“When Officers attended, they heard loud music and saw 10-15 people inside the home, not wearing masks, drinking, and dancing,” Goodmurphy says.
“When the occupants noticed police, they turned off the music and scattered inside. They refused to answer the door. Officers quickly encountered an extremely confrontational and intoxicated 46-year-old woman, who was later identified as a resident. ”
That woman was slapped with $2,630 of fines for hosting an event, and for “abusive and belligerent behaviour.”
“This is not the time to be inviting guests into your home,” Goodmurphy says. “We will not be tolerating reckless behaviour that could jeopardize the health and safety of others.”
