The Victoria Police Department (VicPD) has issued two tickets to a “belligerent” patron who attempted to leave a local restaurant without paying after violating COVID-19 restrictions and threatening staff.
In a press release from VicPD, patrol officers were called to a restaurant in the 500-block of Yates Street just after 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 for a report that a group had left without paying.
According to police, officers were able to locate the group nearby and, after speaking with them, returned with them to the restaurant to have them settle their bill.
As part of the investigation, officers spoke with restaurant staff and said they were told that some members of the original group had not returned.
The missing men were referred to as “belligerent and aggressive” towards staff, who were trying to enforce the latest regulations for COVID-19 in British Columbia.
Staff told police officers that one man in the group had threatened a restaurant employee after they asked the man to follow the COVID-19 restrictions.
After further investigation, police say that video surveillance footage from inside the restaurant showed one man “clearly violating the restrictions and threatening staff.”
VicPD says officers began searching for the man the same night and were able to locate him at another nearby restaurant.
Police issued him two tickets under the COVID-19 Related Measures Act (CRMA): one under Section 6 for Abusive or Belligerent Behaviour and one for Failing to Comply with Patron Conditions.
According to police, both fines carry a price tag of $230.
On Tuesday it was revealed by the Province that failure to comply with the new mask mandate in public indoor spaces could lead to a $230 fine.
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