A Toronto councilor says the city was “caught unawares” by several violent incidents that occurred Sunday night on Woodbine Beach and should do its best to make sure there is a greater police presence in the popular destination on long weekends.
A total of 19 people were arrested and seven officers were injured after a violent night on the east beach on Sunday, in which two people were shot and two were robbed at gunpoint. There were also several incidents in which people fired Roman candles at each other.
The situation was calmer on Monday night, but police said one person was stabbed during a fight in Ashbridges Bay Park. A total of five people were also arrested for various crimes on and around the beach on Monday night.
“They caught us off guard and, frankly, we know we have to own them,” area councilor Brad Bradford told CP24 on Tuesday morning. “Our officers and front-line men did a tremendous job. They were doing the best they could with the resources they had. But I think the fact that you see seven wounded officers is a pretty strong indication that we had no handle on So when you look at the command in leadership decisions, we need to make sure that on long weekends we have the resources available to keep everyone safe, to keep the community safe, the visitors, and of course our officers. they’re doing their job there. Safe. “
Bradford said the violence that took place in Woodbine Beach over the weekend, especially on Sunday night, was “unacceptable” and cannot happen again.
He said the impact on neighbors has also been significant.
“I spent all Monday afternoon going up and down the streets here talking to the neighbors and what happened on Sunday evening was terrifying,” he said. “Illegal behavior, the indiscriminate firing of Roman candles at people, objects, destruction of property. It must be stopped “.
Police said earlier that at least one of the injured officers was “hit directly in the face with fireworks and suffered severe abrasions to his face, ears and eyes.”
Another officer broke his leg chasing a suspect in a shooting.
Bradford said in the future he would like to see more resources in places like Woodbine Beach on long weekends when there is usually an influx of visitors.
“We are an attraction not only for the city but for the whole region. People come down here, they want to have a good time and we want them to come and have fun, but they have to be safe, polite and respectful and we have to make sure we have the app and if things go well. of the hand that we are able to do, “he said.” You will not see what we saw this past Sunday night. We have to have the resources to make sure things don’t get out of hand. “
Mayor John Tory has previously said that the violence in Woodbine Beach over the weekend was “totally unacceptable” and meant “hooliganism”.
He also said he had spoken to Chief James Ramer about “additional measures that could be taken to limit the presence of fireworks on our beaches and keep them safe in the future.”