Charges have been laid after an Aylmer church held a religious service that allegedly violated the province's lockdown rules.
Aylmer police received several complaints about the service being held Sunday at the Church of God on John Street. According to those who called police, people were gathering outside of their vehicles and some were going inside of the church.
Under Ontario's lockdown COVID-19 restrictions, religious services are capped at ten people indoors and ten people outdoors, with physical distancing required.
"Officers attended [the church] and found that a contravention of the continued emergency order was taking place and as a result, a summons was issued to a 37-year-old male for the charge of host an event exceeding number permitted," police said.
It is believed the man who was charged is the son of the church's pastor.
A summons is also expected to be served on the church organization, police said.
Those charged are scheduled to appear in court next month.
The Church of God drew criticism earlier in the year when it held drive-in services that went against provincial public health measures enacted during the spring COVID-19 lockdown. At the time, drive-in church services were not permitted. That rule was amended to allow such services during the lockdown that began on Boxing Day.
Anyone convicted of violating lockdown restrictions can be fined between $10,000 and $100,000 and jailed for up to one year.
Police also dispersed a group of pro-mask demonstrators that had assembled in 15 to 20 vehicles along the roadway near the Church of God. The peaceful demonstration was dismantled by police due to safety concerns and roadway congestion.
A gathering of more than 100 people at a Mennonite Church in Wheatley also led to charges.
Chatham-Kent police observed the dozens of unmasked people inside the Old Colony Mennonite Church around 11 a.m. on Boxing Day.
A 50-year-old Merlin man was charged in relation to that gathering.
