The Belleville Police Service responded to 73 calls for service from August 1st, 2020 at 5:00 a.m. to August 2nd, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.
Neighbourhood Brawl with Weapons / Injuries
Belleville, ON – On August 1st, 2020 at approximately 10:30pm, city police dispatch received a multitude of 911 calls flooding the lines regarding a neighbourhood brawl which was taking place on the street in a North-East end, newly built residential area. Police also received reports that combatants involved were swinging baseball bats and steel pipes at one another as well as there being a possible stabbing victim.
Within minutes, numerous police units flooded the scene which was described as, “utter chaos.” Two men were observed to be unconscious with serious head injuries lying in the street and another male with a large open wound to his forearm lying on the grass yard of a home. A fourth younger male was seen staggering around with an obvious broken hand. Four city EMS units were dispatched to the incident location as well as assistance from the Belleville Fire Department medical-trauma unit. Four males involved in the fight were transported to the Belleville General Hospital by EMS. All parties involved were remaining tight lipped about what had transpired. However, from what police could gather from the little information offered, the fight started between two different family homes on the street over a loud vehicle and street racing which then escalated way out of control. Police say there were up to 10 to 15 people involved in the altercation. Officers were able to secure a short video clip from a cell phone from another neighbour who was not involved. This assisted police in identifying the original instigator striking another man in the head with a led trailer hitch bar causing the victim of that strike to be rendered unconscious, sustaining a serious head injury.
Officers, identified that man as 33-year-old Matthew McKenna of Belleville. Mr. McKenna was arrested and charged with one count of Assault with a Weapon and one count of Assault Causing Bodily Harm and is scheduled to appear in the Belleville Ontario Court of Justice on September 3rd, 2020 to answer to his charge.
This investigation is ongoing and other charges may be pending as police seek to identify other suspects and evidence.
Police noted that numerous other residents not involved in the occurrence were out on their porches and front yards in the neighbourhood while the incident was taking place. Police canvassed as many neighbours as they could find who may have been able to assist their investigation. However still, the Belleville Police is requesting that if anyone has information that could assist the police with this investigation, to please call the Belleville Police Service at 613-966-0882 ext 2223. If you wish to remain anonymous, please call Quinte Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Break & Enter
Belleville, ON – On August 2nd, 2020 at approximately 4am, police dispatched received a frantic call from a south east home owner that she heard someone breaking her window at the front of her house. The caller then advised the dispatcher that she believed that the suspect made entry into her home. Officers were on scene within a minute and found a suspect in the residence back yard and took him into custody.
The accused man, an 18-year-old Belleville resident was charged with the following criminal offences;
- Mischief to Property Under $5000
- Prowl by Night
- Breach of Court Order
The accused was held in custody and will appear before a Justice this morning at 11am for a Show Cause Hearing to answer to his charges.
