An Oakville teenager has been arrested on charges of assault with a weapon after shooting fireworks at police officers during Victoria Day celebrations involving hundreds of people.

Halton police received several calls at 9:00 pm on Monday about a large group of people shooting fireworks at Lakeshore Road West and East Street in the Oakville region, according to CTV News.

When police arrived at the scene, they found between 200 and 300 young people discharging fireworks in the air and at one another. A 15-year-old allegedly fired towards officers and was immediately arrested and charged.

While no injuries were reported, police say they issued several tickets to those gathered at the event.

Residents reported seeing up to 17 Halton police cruisers at the scene to handle the disturbance.

Officers in riot gear were on standby at Woodbine Beach after last year’s celebrations resulted in two shootings, two robbings at gunpoint, a stabbing, and seven injured officers from fireworks. 19 charges were laid at last year’s Victoria Day celebrations.

Police presence included officers mounted on motorcycles and horseback to quell any violence.

“What happened last year, we are not going to tolerate this year, said Staff Supt. Paul MacIntyre to reporters on Friday. “My officers will be out in full force.”

Toronto Mayoral candidate Olivia Chow, who is currently leading in the polls,  has yet to release a platform that addresses the rising crime rate in the city.

Candidate and former Toronto police chief, Mark Saunders, has released a plan to make the TTC safer which includes hiring 200 additional uniformed officers in the transit system to respond to disturbances.

Anthony Furey, who is currently on leave as True North’s vice president of editorial and content, said he plans to reverse the trend of declining front-line police officers by hiring more cops.

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