'An unfortunate waste of resources': Ontario woman facing criminal charge following water gun incident
CTV
A Simcoe, Ont. woman is facing an assault with a weapon charge after she said that she accidentally sprayed her neighbour with a water gun over the Labour Day weekend, a situation that at least one legal expert says amounts to an ‘unfortunate waste of resources.’
A Simcoe, Ont. woman is facing an assault with a weapon charge after she said that she accidentally sprayed her neighbour with a water gun over the Labour Day weekend, a situation that at least one legal expert says amounts to an "unfortunate waste of resources."
Wendy Washik was at a neighbourhood barbecue on Sept. 1 when she joined a playful water gun fight with one of her neighbour’s children. As the 58-year-old educational assistant was chasing the child to the front of the home, she said she accidentally sprayed another neighbour with water.
“I just kept apologizing and apologizing,” she told CTV News Toronto in an interview on Wednesday, adding that the neighbour began “screaming” at her following the incident.
Washik said the neighbour called police and officers arrived at the scene a short time later and charged her with assault with a weapon. She claims police spoke to the neighbour who made the call but asked no one else questions about the incident.
“I was in shock. I just couldn't believe it. I kept saying to the police officer, 'It was a water gun. I didn't do it intentionally. I was having a water gun fight!' I just couldn't believe it,” Washik, who says she does not have a criminal record, recalled.
According to an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) news release issued on Sept. 3, a Norfolk County officer was called to the Woodway Trail home for a report of a neighbour dispute which resulted in the victim being physically assaulted. No injuries were reported.
Washik’s full name, age and area of residence were included in the news release announcing the assault with a weapon charge against her but a description of the type of weapon used was not.
