A series of incidents at a recently-returned carnival in Campbell River have RCMP calling out drunk and disorderly behaviour.
The carnival, operated by West Coast Amusements, reopened from August 19 to 21 after a prolonged absence due to COVID-19. Earlier in the month, West Coast Amusements also held events in Port Hardy and Nanaimo.
Unfortunately, the closing day for the Campbell River carnival was marred by upwards of ten calls for police.
Between 7:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m., the Campbell River RCMP were called to incidents including intoxication, harassment, and threats of assault.
“I spoke to several younger people the following day and instead of talking about the rides and treats and the fun they had, what they talked about was the fights and the smell of drugs and liquor,” said Cst Maury Tyre.
“Quite frankly, adults who venture into an event targeted for the fun of young people and families and act as if common social decency doesn’t apply to them should be ashamed of themselves and it is simply not acceptable.”
The first incident involved a 24-year-old man who RCMP say is well known to them. The man allegedly was intoxicated and causing a disturbance. This then spilled over into a large fight in the parking lot of the Brandt Road Shell station.
A panic alarm was set off at the business, and police arrested the 24-year-old man on active warrants from previous incidents.
Police then responded to a report of a 26-year-old woman leaving the carnival in what officers say was a highly intoxicated state. She allegedly was screaming and yelling and waving her arms at passersby. The woman was supervised by an officer but was allowed to return home once a safe pickup was arranged.
At 10:20 p.m. the RCMP were called in again for a report of an intoxicated 18-year-old male. The teenager was allegedly trying to fight strangers at the fairgrounds. Before police responded, another person apparently bear sprayed the young man in the face.
The teenager refused to cooperate with police and would not disclose who had bear sprayed him. He also did not provide information on what had transpired earlier.
In addition, the Campbell River RCMP say there were other multiple small altercations throughout the evening involving intoxicated teens and adults.
“These individuals succeeded in turning positive childhood memories for some into a teaching point for kids’ parents, to show their children how not to act,” said Tyre.
