Police are looking for a woman who allegedly told children the novel coronavirus was fake and then spat at a school staff member.
According to the Saanich Police Department, a woman without a mask entered a schoolyard on May 14 and began telling children that COVID-19 wasn’t real.
Then, when the woman was confronted by a school staff member, she allegedly became verbally aggressive and spat in the face of the staff member.
“This suspect then became very agitated began yelling and screaming and cursing in front of the children and staff member, unfortunately, which led to her actually spitting in the face of the staff member,” Const. Markus Anastasiades, media spokesperson with the Saanich Police Department, told CHEK News.
Under the criminal code, spitting is considered assault, and police are pursuing charges as such — there’s also the possibility of fines.
“It is a violation, so essentially a violation ticket. Or a submission to crown counsel to see fit if it does go to trial for abusive or belligerent behavior,” Anastasiades said.
Under the emergency program act — a $230 violation ticket can be handed out for what police call disappointing behaviour.
“There’s always two sides to the story. And we want to hear from what this suspect says about what happened and transpired back on May 14,” said Anastasiades.
Saanich PD is not publically revealing which school the assault occurred at, but parents told CHEK News it was at Lansdowne Middle School.
Anyone with information about the incident or anyone who knows or can identify the suspect is asked to contact the Saanich Police Department at 250-475-4321 or contact the Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
Kori Sidaway
