Police will look into whether a bear-mace incident involving teens in North Burnaby might be linked to the suspected pepper-spraying of a local daycare playground last week.
Police were called to the area of Hythe Avenue and Dundas Street at about 8:20 p.m. on Sept. 23 for reports of mace being deployed at a house, according to Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Mike Kalanj.
A group of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 reported that an “unknown person” had entered the house and bear-sprayed one of the youths – but not a lot more information was provided, he said.
“They’re not being cooperative or saying anything about anything,” Kalanj said of the teens.
On Reddit, a person who said they were staying in the area described a commotion:
“A well-known group of teens that live in the area started screaming blood curdling screams Thursday night at around 8-9pm, yelling for help from their balcony,” stated the online post. “I think they sprayed themselves with the pepper or bear spray at one of the teen boy’s home the fire truck came and cops stayed for a couple hours.”
Kalanj said police have attended the house where the pepper spray was deployed “multiple” times since the beginning of the year.
He said police are now canvassing the neighbourhood for security video to shed more light on the incident.
There is currently no indication it is linked to the suspected pepper-spraying of playground equipment three kilometres away at Puddle Splashers Daycare on Frances Street, but Kalanj said police will investigate any possible link.
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