ATHABASCA – Days after the province shut down non-essential businesses and encouraged people to stay in their homes to stop the spread of COVID-19, Athabasca RCMP have noted an increase in assaults.
Between March 20 and April 3 there were seven assaults ranging from a phone being thrown at someone, to a man threatening to cut his partner’s head off. As well, on two occasions, RCMP officers were assaulted while making arrests.
“There’s been a lot of violent crime going on; is it attributed to what’s going on with the COVID-19 pandemic?” Corp. Steve Bereza asked. “There’s a very good chance that it could maybe be a coincidence, but it just seems to be ramping up a little bit.”
Bereza listed off several assaults including a Rochester man who was arrested March 21 after he choked his wife, who are both 57 years old, then dragged her across the floor before throwing arrows at her. He was charged with assault with a weapon and mischief.
Another involved a 31-year-old man from Colinton who was arrested after threatening to cut off his partner’s head. The woman reported he was on drugs at the time and the couple also have a baby in the home.
“RCMP were called and the male was located on foot outside of town and arrested for uttering threats,” Bereza said.
On March 26, a mother called police saying her daughter had thrown her phone at her and needed her removed from the residence. When police arrived, the daughter resisted arrest by spitting on the officer and trying to hit him in the face. She then ended up biting the officer on the arm.
“He’s OK, there’s nothing major,” Bereza said, noting it was a heavy two weeks for assaults in general.
A 39-year-old Athabasca woman was charged with obstruction and assault on a peace officer.
That same day a man called to report that his sister had been assaulted, which led to the seizure of two firearms and the arrest of a 41-year-old man who was charged with mischief under $5,000, careless use of a firearm and possession of a prohibited firearm.
“That firearm is actually illegal to own by anybody,” Bereza explained.
“Which means it has been altered.”
Another officer was assaulted when a 40-year-old Calling Lake man head-butted him while being arrested for assaulting a woman.
The last two assaults in that period involve a 31-year-old man from Colinton and an Edmonton woman of the same age who were separately charged with assault in two different incidents.
The man was charged with assault by choking after he choked his fiancé and hit her head on the floor.
The female was charged after she used a buck saw to cut another woman on the hand.
She was charged with assault with a weapon, assault and mischief under $5,000.
Bereza noted some people are better than others at staying secluded at home for an extended period of time and that it may contribute to the sudden spike in assaults.
“People aren’t used to staying secluded — I think just in general, human nature is not that way — so, yeah it could increase for sure,” he said.
“All we can do is play by ear and see what happens.”
He also said that while first responders have to get used to doing things a bit differently to avoid exposure to COVID-19, the RCMP will still respond to 911 calls.
“Hopefully we can flatten the curve and get things back to normal.”
If you are a victim of abuse you are encouraged to report it to your local RCMP detachment.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Follow our COVID-19 special section for the latest local and national news on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as resources, FAQs and more.
Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @HLSox
