Leamington OPP report people in two churches just north of that community violated provincial lockdown guidelines recently, and in one case, a Chatham-Kent resident faces charges.
Both incidents took place on Sunday. Shortly after 9 a.m., officers received a complaint about church services “in the 1300 block of Mersea Road 8,” according to the OPP media release. The Church of God is located at 1303 Mersea Rd. 8, and is the only church in that area.
A 29-year-old Leamington resident took responsibility for the gathering, which police say was “well above” the 10-person maximum allowed under current guidelines. The person faces a charge of failing to comply with a continued section 7.0.2 order, contrary to section 10(1)(a) of the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020.
Not much later, and just down the road, in the 700 block of Mersea Road 8, officers received another complaint about a large church gathering.
Again, the OPP did not release the name of the church, but the Old Colony Mennonite Church is the only one in the area, located at 735 Mersea Rd. 8.
There, a 46-year-old Chatham-Kent resident took responsibility for the “large gathering,” police say.
That person faces a similar charge under the Reopening Ontario Act.
