After Party Altercation Leads to Charges

09 Nov After Party Altercation Leads to Charges

On Friday, October 27, 2023 shortly before 11:30 p.m. the Stratford Police Service attended a large house party on Elgin Street East, in the Town of St Marys after receiving a report of over 100 teenagers in attendance at the party, causing a disturbance.

The homeowner was issued a ticket under the Noise By-Law for the Town of St Marys and the party was broken up.

Police remained on scene until the situation had settled and many of the youths in attendance had been picked up by family members.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m. on October 28th, the Stratford Police received a report of an altercation in the area of Elizabeth Street and James Street South, in the Town of St Marys, which involved a number of the teenagers from the party.

Police located five victims at a nearby residence who had suffered injuries from being pepper sprayed and a physical assault.

Two accused persons were identified as an 18-year-old male and a 15-year-old male, both of whom reside in the City of Stratford.

The investigation into the matter revealed that one of the victims, a 17-year-old male resident of St Marys had been assaulted by the 18-year-old accused. The accused had attacked the victim and stomped on the victim’s head. The accused also used what is believed to be a pellet gun to shoot the victim in the back of the head, causing injuries that required stitches.

A second victim, a 20-year-old male resident of St Marys, attempted to intervene to prevent the situation from continuing; however, the 18-year-old accused and the 15-year-old accused sprayed all five victims with pepper spray before the altercation ended and the two accused persons fled the scene. During the course of the altercation the 18-year-old accused also pointed the firearm at the 20-year-old victim’s face.

The two accused persons were identified and attempts to locate them were made. Both of the accused later turned themselves into the Stratford Police. The 18-year-old male was held in custody to attend a bail hearing and is required to re-attend court on November 1, 2023. The 15-year-old male was released from custody on an Undertaking and is required to attend court on December 14, 2023.

Later, on October 28, 2023 at approximately 9:30 p.m. the Stratford Police was contacted by a homeowner on Huron Street, in the Town of St Marys who reported that a backpack containing a handgun had been located on the property. It was suspected that the backpack was associated to the party that had occurred the previous night and belonged to an unknown person who attended the party.

Police attended the residence and found that the backpack contained four 9mm rounds of ammunition, and a magazine for a handgun; however, no handgun was located. At this point police are unable to prove who was in possession of these items and no charges were laid for this matter.

In regard to charges laid against the two accused, the 18-year-old has been charged with Administer a Noxious Substance, Assault with a Weapon, Carry Concealed Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, Fail to Comply Release Order, and Breach Probation. The 15-year-old male has been charged with Administer a Noxious Substance, Assault with a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for Dangerous Purpose, Carry Concealed Weapon, and Breach of Probation.