From My Bottom Step

A London Police Service media release:

On October 31th, 2009, at 12:24 a.m., the London Police Service received a call from a concerned citizen regarding a large student party in the area of 280 Thurman Circle, London, Ontario. The London Police Service then received further calls indicating the crowd was in access of 300 people who were partying in the street, turning over vehicles, breaking windows of residences, causing property damage, climbing on wooden fences, and swarming vehicles as they attempted to drive down the street

London Police Service attended the area and observed a large tumultuous crowd of approximately 500 people who began to chant anti-police slogans and throw beer bottles. While Police were waiting for additional units to arrive the crowd continued its tumultuous behaviour slowly advancing towards the police and continually throwing beer bottles, glass plates and various debris at the officers.

At 1:04 a.m., Police received a call for assistance at 184 Thurman Circle from a male who had fallen, hit his head and was unconscious. Paramedics and Firefighters were also dispatched to attend for this injured person, but were unable to reach him due to this chaotic and disorderly crowd.

As a result of the overwhelming risk to public and emergency personnel’s safety within the entire neighbourhood, the crowd was deemed to be an Unlawful Assembly and overt crowd control / dispersement measure were employed by police. 22 people were arrested for being participants of an Unlawful Assembly, 1 male who officers on scene were able to positively identify as throwing beer bottles was arrested and charged with Assault Police.

The London Police Service had in place an Operational Plan and had deployed additional officers to address the anticipated increase in calls for service associated to the Halloween weekend. However, in light of the extreme level of disorderly and unlawful conduct displayed in the Thurman Circle neighbourhood, an even great police deployment will occur this evening throughout the City and specifically in the Thurman Circle neighbourhood. The London Police Service will to continue to ensure the safety of the public and maintain public order, public disorder and unlawful acts will not be tolerated and will be met with a strong police response and strict enforcement.

Appended 2010/01/07 @ 02:00 p.m:

On the night of October 30th, 2009 several young people were attending several house parties in the area of Thurman Circle, In London Ontario. Residents of this neighbourhood are predominately college students who rent and share single detached homes with other students. However, there are still homes in this area occupied by families with young children.

Shortly after midnight, it appears the occupants from several smaller adjacent house parties came out onto the street and began to party on the street. Soon the street was blocked by partying young people. Two vehicles approached this crowd and came to a stop as the street was impassible. The crowd swarmed the vehicles and began to violently rock the vehicles as though the vehicles were going to be rolled over. A call went out for police assistance.

Upon arrival of the first police unit, officers were repelled by members of the crowd throwing beer bottles at police. More officers were summoned to the area. The crowd began to throw wine bottles, full cans of beer, paving stones from driveways, and spindles from citizens front porch railings that were smashed out. Twenty two people were subsequently arrested for Unlawful Assembly and face criminal charges.

Police video tapped the crowd from a distance prior to making arrests. However, a video was also taken by a member of the crowd prior to police arrival. This video has been posted on a social networking site. Police have since come into possession of this video.

The following video displays the faces of active participants in this unlawful assembly. We are asking anyone who can identify any participant depicted in this video to call Crime Stoppers and provide the name of the participant. Please describe at what portion of the video the person is depicted, what they are wearing, what they look like, and the actions they are engaged in. Putting a name to these participants will further this police investigation and hold people accountable for their behavior.

An Unlawful Assembly occurs when 3 or more people meet (in any place), and while together, one or more of those persons begin to act in a manner that causes persons in that neighbourhood to fear that the assembly will disturb the peace tumultuously, or, that members of the assembly will provoke other persons to disturb the peace tumultuously. This is a criminal offence that entails arrest, bail, and a criminal record upon conviction.

Anyone with any information regarding the identity of persons in the video are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or provide their tips online at www.londoncrimestoppers.com.

The video is posted on the Crime Stoppers Website for viewing and copies can also be provided upon request.