Hamilton police have arrested someone after discovering man-made holes and tunnels at a park while doing routine encampment checks.
On Tuesday, police were doing the checks at Gage Park. During this patrol, they found a large hole, six feet deep, in the park ground. Police also found a series of tunnels carved out of the surrounding soil to allow for extension cords and other electrical wiring to connect to multiple tents.
“Powering all of this was a generator that had been dug into another hole and covered up for concealment. A final power cord was found to be running from the generator to a City of Hamilton light pole,” Hamilton police said in a press release.
After a thorough investigation, police arrested a male in the area who they believe is responsible for the holes and tunnels, in an effort to provide electricity to other homeless encampments.
Police said he was arrested after a brief foot chase and charged with mischief over $5,000, fail to comply with a probation order, and the possession of fentanyl, meth, and hydromorphone for the purpose of trafficking.
Due to safety concerns, police say the remaining tents within the location were relocated and the holes have been fenced off until the city makes the necessary repairs to the ground.
CLOSURE OF TORONTO ENCAMPMENT
Earlier this week, an encampment in Toronto was cleared as part of an action plan to dismantle it.
Back in October, residents were calling on the city to dismantle a homeless encampment at Clarence Square citing several safety concerns from assaults, mischief, robberies to overdoses.
On Tuesday, Toronto City Councillor for Ward 10, Spadina-Fort York Ausma Malik tweeted that the encampments were officially cleared, as part of her Clarence Square Action Plan launched in March.
“Since March, 40 people have been referred indoors and 11 people have moved into permanent housing. Also since March, 96 new encampments were prevented, by immediately providing shelter space referrals. And since January, 115 encampments have been resolved,” she said.
“My team and I have worked closely with City staff, community partners, emergency services, and neighbours to advance a people-first, human-rights based approach that prioritizes outreach, providing support and information, and connecting to shelter,” she said in a statement.
“While this has been challenging work, and I have been committed to responding to community concerns, and keeping in regular communication with neighbours – and I thank you for your commitment to resolving this through a dedicated approach,” she continued.
Last week, Ontario Premier Doug Ford says multiple mayors have asked for help to deal with homeless encampments and in response, the government is introducing new measures that will protect communities, and clear out encampments while getting unhoused individuals help they need.
The new legislation includes greater service manager accountability with provincial and local priorities, additional funding to create more capacity in shelter systems, prohibiting the use of illicit drugs in public, enhanced penalties for people who break the law and new approaches to treatment and rehabilitation.
“I am confident that the legislative authorities the province is preparing are common sense, practical and entirely aligned with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, especially for the law-abiding residents who simply want to enjoy the benefits of their local public spaces,” Ford said in a letter addressed to Ontario mayors on Dec. 5.
