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Calgary Herald

Five youths charged after deploying bear spray at bus near Chinook station

Article content Five youths have been charged after bear spray was deployed near a transit bus by Chinook Station. Article content Article content According to a news release, police allege two groups of youths became involved in an altercation at a bus stop near Third Street and 61 Avenue S.W., near the Chinook CTrain station, on Friday, May 23 at 3:40 p.m. Article content As one group attempted to board a bus, members of the group allegedly sprayed bear spray near the open door, affecting the victims, the bus driver and uninvolved passengers on the bus. The group then fled the scene. Article content Article content The suspects were located and arrested within minutes by members of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Community Engagement Response Team (CERT) and Calgary Transit Public Safety. Article content Article content Three girls aged 14, 15 and 16 and two boys aged 14 and 16 have been charged with four counts each of assault with a weapon. Article content Two girls aged 15 and 16 and one boy aged 14 are scheduled to appear in court on Friday, June 20. Article content The 14-year-old girl has also been charged with failure to comply with a release order. She is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The 16-year-old boy has also been charged with two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, one count of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose and one count of failure to comply with a release order. He was scheduled to appear in court on Friday, May 30. Article content None of the youths can be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Article content Article content 'Safety on public transit and in public spaces is a top priority for the Calgary Police Service and our Safer Calgary partners,' said Acting Staff Sgt. Derek Klassen. 'As part of Operation Safer Calgary, CERT members have been strategically deployed to these areas to ensure public safety. This proactive deployment allowed for seamless collaboration with our partners at Transit Public Safety and the timely arrest of these suspects. Violence on transit and in public spaces will not be tolerated in our city. We remain committed to holding those who choose to commit these acts of violence accountable for their actions as we work to make Calgary a safer place for everyone.'