A man is in custody facing charges after allegedly filling a North Battleford church with bear spray during a Sunday morning service. The incident occurred at St. Paul's Anglican Church on 99th Street, where approximately 25 people of all ages were impacted by the effects of the bear spray, according to an RCMP news release.
Incident Details
Around 10:40 a.m., RCMP officers quickly responded to an initial call reporting a disturbance, followed by a second call describing the scene. Officers arrested a man who was being held by people inside a church hallway and seized the bear spray. EMS treated several people at the scene, including children. No other physical injuries were reported to police.
Investigation Ongoing
RCMP said a preliminary investigation does not indicate that this incident was a hate crime. As of Sunday afternoon, police still needed to speak with witnesses and others at the church before any further information could be released, including what happened before the incident. No charges have been laid, which restricts the RCMP from releasing identifying details about the suspect. More details will be released when available, the release stated.
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