Police investigating 'unnecessary and unacceptable' behaviour during post-Panda Game party in Sandy Hill
Residents in Sandy Hill cleaned up from a night of post-Panda Game celebrations on Sunday, as Ottawa police began the investigation into what it called "unnecessary and unacceptable" behaviour during an "unsanctioned gathering" near the University of Ottawa campus.
Seven people have been arrested and dozens of tickets were handed out for open alcohol and excessive noise during festivities related to the football game. Police say officers are now collecting online and drone footage from the "unsanctioned gathering" on Somerset Street East as part of the investigation.
Thousands of people gathered on the streets of Sandy Hill hours after the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees beat the Carleton Ravens in the 53rd Panda Game at TD Place. Ottawa police officers, with assistance from the OPP, maintained an enhanced police presence in Sandy Hill, the ByWard Market and Old Ottawa South through the weekend.
"It was really wild. The streets were packed with people, there was garbage everywhere," Christian Edgley said on Sunday. "The police did a very good job of moving everyone and keeping everyone secure; making sure everybody was safe."
Police said after a quiet few hours in Sandy Hill, large crowds began gathering on Somerset Street East at about 8:30 p.m.
"Many people in the crowd became belligerent and hostile and began committing illegal acts, including vandalism and throwing objects at police," police said in a statement Sunday morning.
The Ottawa Police Twitter account urged students and partygoers to leave Sandy Hill "immediately," as officers moved in to disperse the crowd. The crowds had been dispersed by 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
"A lot of police presence, which I thought was unnecessary. They dispersed the crowd more," said one person in Sandy Hill on Sunday. "It was just a normal teenage party."
On Sunday, Ottawa police said seven arrests have been made, and there are "multiple criminal investigations underway." Investigators asked anyone with pictures or video of any illegal activities to email it to specialeventsCID@ottawapolice.ca.
"The Ottawa Police will also provide the names of university students charged with criminal offences to Carleton University and the University of Ottawa so that student conduct rules may be applied," police said on Sunday.
The University of Ottawa apologized for the disruptions the large crowds caused to its neighbours in Sandy Hill, adding, "We will now take stock with our partners and discuss lessons learned."
On Sunday morning, the cleanup of red cups, beer cans and other litter strewn on the streets was underway.
"The streets look alright," said student Jack Hurley. "Hopefully, everyone did their part to clean up."
Student Laura Chin adding, "I'm surprised it's cleaner. I think we expected there to be more like glass shards and stuff."
The University of Ottawa said on Twitter Sunday morning that it would "take stock and determine how to move forward" with the Panda Game in the future, but deleted the tweet.
For residents in Sandy Hill, they say they like the Panda Game, but have concerns.
"How much am I paying as a taxpayer to have that high of a police presence so that young people can have some kind of a party because they think they're entitled to since they're in university," said Sandy Hill resident Dory Cameron.
An Ottawa police spokesperson told CTV News Ottawa last Thursday that a bill for policing the Panda Game will be sent to the universities.
"As in many university cities, some of the public safety costs related to the Panda Game are being billed back to the universities," police said.
Police said as of 1:15 a.m. Sunday, seven people were arrested, including for public intoxication and mischief, and 88 tickets were issued for open alcohol. Ottawa Bylaw officers issued another 13 tickets worth $1,000 each for noise violations.
A total of seven vehicles were towed over the weekend, while 76 parking tickets were issued.
In a statement on Sunday afternoon, police said they developed a significant deployment plan to manage large crowds of students, to ensure no one was injured and the crowd was managed and dispersed.
"Police on the street, both Ottawa Police and OPP, were able to resolve issues and mitigate violence, injuries and significant damage. Officers and residents were subjected to belligerency and hostility," police said.
"The post-game behaviour from university students and other individuals was unnecessary and unacceptable."
Police had promised to take a "zero tolerance" approach to issues related to the Panda Game this year, after post-game festivities got out of control in Sandy Hill last year. In October 2021, festivities saw 2,000 people pack Russell Avenue in Sandy Hill, damaging property and flipping a vehicle. Eight people were charged with mischief, and two people were charged with taking part in a riot.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.