Joint Police forces were present this weekend as partygoers filled the streets to celebrate Queen’s University’s Homecoming weekend. As of November 2nd, $89,000 in fines have been given out and four “nuisance parties” were declared.
The unsanctioned street parties carried on as the university held officially sanctioned homecoming events for Queen’s University alumni.
Despite this, both students and alumni were present throughout the unsanctioned street parties.
Police report that there was at least one injury throughout the gatherings, involving an individual who was struck in the head with a brick that was “thrown from within the gathering on Aberdeen Street.” The individual was treated and transported to hospital by paramedics for further treatment.
Police also intervened throughout several “close calls” as the dangerous situations arose. In one instance, Police guided a visibly intoxicated student as he began to descend a roof access stairwell.
The first nuisance party was declared on Toronto street at around 12:30 p.m, where several people faced a $2,000 fine for hosting the event.
By 2:00pm, Aberdeen Street began to swell with partygoers and by 2:54 pm, Police officially declared a nuisance gathering on Aberdeen St.
Police began warning students that they faced a $500 fine for remaining on the street while a nuisance party was declared.
A third nuisance party was declared at 4:19 at multiple residences, which included the backyards of residences. Attendees were ordered to disperse & were liable to an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) under the Nuisance Party Bylaw.
By 4:30pm, Police had effectively blocked all entrances into Aberdeen St, laid several charges on partygoers and issued monetary penalties to those who chose not to comply.
The nuisance party declaration was officially lifted at around 5:30 p.m.
Things settled down in the University District for the day until around 10:30 pm, when a nuisance party had been declared on Albert Street at Couper Street.
On Saturday alone, 54 individuals were charged with provincial offences under the Liquor Licence Control Act and 6 individuals were arrested for Public Intoxication under the Liquor Licence Control Act. There were also several criminal code arrests, including:
- individual arrested for Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- 1 individual arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and possession of a concealed weapon
- 1 individual arrested for possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a concealed weapon, possession of proceeds of crime
“Officers continued to observe aggressive, volatile and unsafe behaviour that has unfortunately become far to commonplace these past weeks,” said Kingston Police Chief Antje McNeely. “Unfortunately, despite our broad community outreach by Police Liaison Team (PLT) members and other resources that were deployed in the lead up to homecoming, we still saw many dangerous gatherings with high-risk behaviour displayed throughout the weekend.”
Bylaw also Enforcement issued a total of 92 Administrative Monetary Penalties totaling $44,400. The breakdown is as follows:
- Failure to comply, 46 tickets totaling $23,000.
- Hosting, attending or sponsoring a nuisance party, seven tickets totaling $14,000.
- Amplification of sound, 35 tickets totaling $7,000.
- Yelling and shouting, four tickets totaling $400.
Within Queen’s University residences, there were 5 false fire alarms between 10:00pm and 6:00am between various residences on Saturday evening/Sunday morning.
Lastly, Kingston Police also report that there were 72 noise complaints within the University District between October 28th and October 29th.
