Two officers reportedly faced assault as they attempted to disperse a large gathering at a Byford residence last night, resulting in two attendees spending the night in jail.
Originally intended to be a Halloween celebration, the event took a chaotic turn when over 400 individuals descended upon Linton Street North.
“The homeowner was not at fault,” a neighbor named Jean explained to 9News. “These kids seemed to appear out of nowhere, and it was the homeowner who contacted the police. I spoke with him afterward, and he was genuinely concerned.”
While many attendees were there for festive fun, neighbors recounted that a few disruptive individuals were causing trouble by shouting, breaking bottles, jumping fences, and even confronting police officers.
“One officer was particularly impressive,” Jean added. “He tackled a large teenager, taking him down to the ground.”
“So the policeman at the side, he was wonderful, he dived on this big teenager, knocked him on the floor.
“Then all the other policemen dived on top. It was just like on television!”
A 16-year-old girl was accused of punching one officer in the face, then kicking another in the knee.
Randy Hill, 21, fronted court today, charged with disorderly behaviour, obstructing a public officer and drug possession.
Some neighbours say at one point a stream of about 200 teenagers walked down the road to get to the party.
They’d come from the recently opened Byford train station about a kilometre away.
The same group left a trail of smashed bottles and broken fences when asked to leave.
Residents and partiers picked up the pieces, with the street still littered with bottles, cans and discarded Halloween costumes.
It was a night of thrills and spills that won’t soon be forgotten.
