Delta police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the people involved in a large gathering on Halloween night that they say resulted in property damage and multiple assaults.
According to police, “hundreds of youths” showed up at South Delta Secondary School and nearby Dennison Park on Monday night. Up to 400 people were estimated to be there at one time, according to what Insp. James Sandberg described it as “organized chaos”.
The Delta Police Department said fireworks were brought and fired directly at people, including first responders who said they were intentionally targeted.
In a statement, police linked to an online video showing fireworks on a soccer field, amid crowds. They said the fireworks damaged the sprinkler heads and went off for more than four hours.
The Delta Fire Department has extinguished fires in bushes and containers in the area.
Sandberg said fireworks are prohibited in Delta unless someone buys a permit in advance. He said two permits were purchased before Halloween, but the fireworks activity was not permitted and therefore illegal.
In addition, police said “several” assaults took place and a youth was hit by a firework, causing burns to his upper arm and shoulder. Two policemen also suffered minor injuries.
The total cost of the damage is unknown. Sandberg said he expects reports of property damage to come in over the next few days, as he knows some fences were damaged during the night’s events.
He calculated that around seven arrests were made but the young man was later released, because resources were limited. About 15 police officers, as well as city personnel, including firefighters, city engineers and municipal officers, were at the scene from 7 p.m. until after midnight, Sandberg said.
“When you have 15 officers for 400 young people, it gets a little out of control.”
Police said youth gatherings and fireworks in Ladner and North Delta also led to noise complaints, damage and an assault.
A North Delta man was bear-sprayed by an unknown youth, police said, and a port-a-potty was set off with fireworks.
The fire department was also dispatched to extinguish a fire on the Mackie Park turf field.
Police are asking anyone with video of any of these events to contact the Delta Police Department or upload video evidence to their online portal.