Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2020

File: 20-46389

Victoria, BC – Patrol officers issued two tickets under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act last night after a group attempted to leave a local restaurant without paying.

Patrol officers were called to a restaurant in the 500-block of Yates Street just after 7:30 p.m. last night for a report that a group had left without paying. Officers located the group nearby and after speaking with them, returned with them to the restaurant to have them settle their bill. As officers spoke with staff at the restaurant they learned that some members of the original group had not returned and that the missing men had been belligerent and aggressive towards staff trying to enforce requirements for COVID-19 restrictions.

Staff reported that a man in the group had threatened a staff member who asked the man to follow the COVID-19 restrictions.  As part of their investigation, officers viewed surveillance footage from inside the restaurant and observed one man clearly violating the restrictions and threatening staff.

Armed with the man’s description, officers began to search for him.

He was located a short time later at another nearby restaurant. He was issued two violation tickets under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA); one under Section 6 for Abusive or Belligerent Behaviour and one for Failing to Comply with Patron Conditions. Each of these fines, with Victim Surcharge, is $230.

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