Police arrest local 16-year-old for assaulting an officer during Homecoming

After video circulated on social media of a Kingston Police officer being assaulted by a young male during Queen’s University Homecoming Weekend, a local teenager has been arrested and charged.

Const. Ash Gutheinz, Media Relations Officer for Kingston Police, said that a 16-year-old male from Kingston has been arrested in connection with the assault. The incident took place on the night of Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 at approximately 11:30 p.m. in the area of the 500 block of Johnson Street. As Kingston Police were attempting to maintinan order with the large crowd in the area, the officer had stopped the accused teenager upon noticing he was committing a provincial offence by having open alcohol in public.

The male refused to identify himself, and the officer attempted an arrest.

“As the accused was escorted to the police cruiser he became actively resistant and tried to pull away from the officer. He then began punching the officer while the surrounding crowd threw beer cans and encouraged his actions,” Kingston Police said in a press release on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019.

“During the struggle the accused continued to punch at the officer and managed to pull out some of the officer’s hair. The officer was able to ground the accused however he then got up and fled the area on foot, escaping his lawful custody.”

In video footage taken by bystanders, which has been circulated on various social media platforms, the male suspect can be seen fighting the female officer before fleeing the scene. No bystanders intervened during the altercation.

After investigating the video footage sent in from multiple party-goers and members of the public, police were able to successfully identify and arrest the 16-year-old local male. He was subsequently arrested at Kingston Police headquarters on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2019 after turning himself in. He was later released with a future court date.

The 16-year-old Kingston male youth was charged with assaulting a police officer, escaping lawful custody of a peace officer, and resisting arrest.

Anyone with any further information about this incident is asked to please contact Det. Veltman at 613-549-4660 ext. 6300, or via email at [email protected].

Tips can also be provided anonymously by calling the Kingston Police general number (613-549-4660 ext. 0) and asking to remain anonymous.