Twelve people are facing charges for their alleged roles in a chaotic, unsanctioned street party during University of Guelph’s Homecoming weekend.
The Guelph Police Service believes approximately 15,000 people took part in the Sept. 26 celebration on Chancellor’s Way that quickly spiralled out of control. Officers responded to approximately 550 incidents throughout the city that day, including 250 calls directly related to Homecoming.
Videos on social media showed party-goers throwing objects into crowds of people, young men climbing up the side of a building and police in tactical gear trying to quell the out-of-control event.
Several criminal charges were laid in the immediate aftermath. In the days that followed, police released images of multiple people they were trying to identify.
On Wednesday, the police service announced 12 people between the ages of 17 and 21 had been arrested. They have each been charged with assault with a weapon, causing a disturbance and two counts of mischief.
One man was also charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon.
Police said information from the public played a crucial role in the arrests.
“A crowd does not provide anonymity and it doesn’t protect anyone from the consequences of their actions,” Guelph Police Chief Gord Cobey said. “If you endanger people, property or first responders, we will hold you accountable. This isn’t behaviour our community will look past, and the public’s help has shown that.”
More people to identify
The investigation isn’t over yet.
Police are still trying to identify other people who may have been behaving dangerously during the gathering.
According to the Guelph Police Service’s website, 16 people have been identified but they are still looking for the names of another 18 people.
