Collingwood OPP officers have been called to resolve multiple incidents involving people arguing over COVID restrictions as frustrations escalate more than one year into the pandemic.
The acting detachment commander for the Collingwood and The Blue Mountains OPP, Insp. Chris Maecker, said police were called to Sunset Point Park on April 11 at 6 p.m. for a reported altercation over COVID-19 restrictions.
He said officers did not observe any illegal activity.
“The parties were separated and advised not to bother each other,” said Maecker.
A video filmed at Sunset Point, seemingly during this same altercation, was posted to TikTok and shared among various other social media platforms.
The video shows a confrontation between a few individuals over COVID-19 restrictions and people visiting the park.
The individual who posted the video alleges a woman “racially harassed” a family at Sunset Point.
Maecker said he hasn’t seen the video, and police did not follow up by requesting the video because there wasn’t anything criminal observed by the responding officers.
“Tensions are high,” said Maecker. “There’s a lot of frustration by the public … and because of that we are seeing an uptick in these types of situations that are in relation to COVID.”
However, altercations like the one on April 11 at Sunset Point are not new, and have been occurring in Collingwood “for various reasons,” according to Maecker, who has worked as a police officer in Collingwood for about three decades.
“Are we seeing an escalation in frustration? Yeah, I think we are because it’s gone on so long,” said Maecker. “But not everything is a COVID call.”
Collingwood OPP is enforcing the provincial shutdown and stay-at-home order, but not with proactive patrols.
“We’re doing it on a call-by-call basis,” said Maecker. “We have enforced and been involved in … gatherings and business openings … but it’s what we come across and what we’re called to do.”
He advised against residents taking the law into their own hands.
“It’s certainly not recommended that people go and confront other people in regards to where they’re from,” said Maecker. “We recommend people use our bylaw [enforcement officers] and use the OPP to be the persons that intervene in these types of situations.”
He is urging Collingwood residents to “stay compliant, look after themselves, and follow health advice.”
Anyone can submit a complaint to the town's bylaw department by calling 705-445-1030, ext. 3256.
You can also call the Collingwood OPP non-emergency line at 705-445-4321.
