Five teenagers are facing assault charges after bear spray was released near a transit bus in southwest Calgary, impacting passengers and a driver during a rush-hour altercation.The incident occurred around 3:40 p.m. on Friday, May 23, near the Chinook CTrain station at 3 St, and 61 Ave. S.W. According to Calgary police, two groups of youths became involved in an altercation at a nearby bus stop. As one group attempted to board a bus, members of the opposing group allegedly deployed bear spray near the vehicle’s open door, affecting multiple victims including uninvolved passengers and the bus driver.The suspects fled the scene, but officers from the Calgary Police Service Community Engagement Response Team (CERT) and Calgary Transit Public Safety quickly located and arrested them.Three girls aged 14, 15, and 16, and two boys aged 14 and 16, have each been charged with four counts of assault with a weapon.In addition to those charges, the 14-year-old girl is also charged with failure to comply with a release order. She is set to appear in court on June 26. The 16-year-old boy faces additional charges including two counts of carrying a concealed weapon, one count of possessing an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose, and one count of failing to comply with a release order. He appeared in court on Friday. The 15-year-old girl, 14-year-old boy, and 16-year-old girl are scheduled to appear in court on June 20.Due to provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, none of the accused can be named.“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. “This proactive deployment allowed for seamless collaboration with our partners at Transit Public Safety and the timely arrest of these suspects.”The charges stem from Operation Safer Calgary, a coordinated effort between police, peace officers, and community outreach teams focused on improving safety in transit areas and downtown hot spots through a data-driven approach.Anyone with information is asked to contact Calgary police at 403-266-1234 or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers.
