Alarming video shows weapon aimed at moving vehicle in east London
Shocking surveillance video circulating online has sparked concern among businesses and residents in the east end of the city.
An image of a man pointing a weapon at a red van has alarmed residents and business owners along Hamilton Road, east of Adelaide Street.
Dennis Kirkwood grew up in the neighbourhood and works across the street from where the incident happened. He says the change in the neighbourhood is evident.
“It’s gone downhill, a lot. Unfortunately druggies, homeless people, prostitutes, uh they hang out an awful lot,” he says.
Kirkwood says property damage has become a common practice. Five windows were broken in a span of a month at Tile Town, where Kirkwood is employed.
The video obtained from a business on Hamilton Road, shows various angles of the incident.
In an off-camera-interview, the business owner told CTV News London he believes the rise in crime is a result of the warming centre that opened during the pandemic just down the street.
Ward One Councillor Michael van Holst confirms the timing, saying “There has certainly been an increase in reports of crime from our businesses since the warming center was opened and certainly after it was extended.”
Van Holst says police have increased their presence in the area and that action is being taken by community members, the Hamilton Road Business Improvement Area (BIA), and he too has taken matters into his own hands.
“I purchased a dash camera, and will drive around late at night, and early in the morning to see what’s happening in the area…and the incident that we’re discussing happened a few weeks ago, it was also a community member that was doing the same kind of thing,” says van Holst.
The councillor says he spoke with the man driving the van, and confirmed that something did strike the back of the vehicle, but luckily no one was injured
He adds, although they have some short-term solutions in place, they are looking at long-term plans as well.
“The Community and Protective Services Committee unanimously endorsed an idea to create some transitional housing near agricultural resources, so that people, our vulnerable population who need housing, can find it in a place where they’re also able to participate in farming or working in a green house, and doing things that will give them some pride, and give them an opportunity to feed themselves, and get involved in the community in a more positive way.”
To business owners who might be thinking of leaving the area, van Holst says, “Please wait, so much of what’s happening now has been caused by the pandemic, and we’ve done so much to improve this area, and if you take a look at what’s happening, there are great changes that have gone on.”
London police confirm they were contacted with regards to an occurrence of property damage in that area – and say the investigation is ongoing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.