Image of police response to gun call at Kitchener encampment prompts online criticism
Posted Jul 4, 2022 11:10:00 AM.
People are reacting with shock and some criticism to police response after images of guns pointed at a tent in the Weber and Victoria encampment circulated online.
Picture and video include a semi-automatic weapon drawn.
A Twitter user said, “It looks like the biggest threat to safety in the encampment is the violent police force funded by the region bringing in deadly weapons to terrorize residents.”
A local resident called the image “repulsive.”
Another Twitter user shared, “Why does Waterloo Regional Police Services need an *assault rifle*? …Oh right, we're supposed to hate the homeless.”
Ground Up WR called for police to be defunded.
This all stems from a report of a disturbance at 100 Victoria Street North in downtown Kitchener over the weekend.
Just past 4 p.m. on Saturday, security working around the encampment notified police that a firearm was used during a physical altercation.
When police got there, they identified a man as being involved in the disturbance.
A YouTube user posted a video reacting to scene.
In it, a person is heard saying, “Oh my God, my heart is racing… That's the biggest gun I think I've ever seen.”
Officers are filmed approaching a tent with a shield and weapons pointed.
After investigation, police did not find a weapon and the man involved in the disturbance was released unconditionally.
No injuries were reported.
In a release detailing the incident, the service said, “Given the nature of the call, police responded with high priority due to public safety concerns and to ensure the safety of those in the immediate area.”
So far it looks like the biggest threat to safety in the encampment is the violent police force funded by the region bringing in deadly weapons to terrorize residents. https://t.co/Lqzgp6xeb0
— Justin (@justin_buhr) July 3, 2022
repulsive
