Above Watch: The Calgary Police gave a final update on the Red Mile, including arrests and costs.
Warning: Story contains graphic content. Discretion is advised.
CALGARY – Calgary police said there were nine arrests over the 11 games of the recent Flames playoff streak, and some investigations involving the possibility of criminal charges are ongoing. The preliminary cost of the entire playoff run is estimated at $850,000, given the need for an increased police presence.
Supt. Ray Robitaille said there were 13 stabbings over the series, which he suggested was “not a significant number with the number of people” who attended. He said the biggest crowd was about 12,000 people on 17 Avenue S.W., and police staffing ranged from 35 to close to 150 officers. One person was charged with impaired driving after a game, and an investigation into an assault with a weapon occurred after Game 3.
Police gave out 147 warnings related to public consumption of alcohol, and poured out over 130 open containers during the series.
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“It wasn’t zero tolerance, it was about promoting the Flames’ playoffs celebration…allowing Calgarians to celebrate respectfully,” said Robitaille, who added policing strategy was based on an independent review of the Vancouver Stanley Cup riots in 2011.
Robitaille said in April that investigations were ongoing into the media trend that involves people grabbing microphones from TV reporters and yelling “F—k her right in the p—y” during live reports.
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One man was charged after yelling the phrase at a CBC reporter on the Red Mile the morning after a playoff game at the end of April. He faces a charge of stunting under the Traffic Safety Act, which carries a $543 fine.
READ MORE: Calgary man charged for shouting FHRITP at female reporter
The incidents prompted a group of Calgarians to create a Facebook group called The Pussy cats consent awareness team on Red Mile, in order to raise awareness about consent and street harassment. The group walked the Red Mile with flyers in a gesture of support before many of the games.
READ MORE: Flames fan describes being groped twice on Red Mile after playoff game
Police also instituted a parking ban along the Red Mile during the playoffs, towing any cars parked on the street after 7 p.m. on game days, in an effort to enhance safety. A mobile command centre was also set up, and police added RCMP officers for home playoff games.
READ MORE: Bob Hartley calls Red Mile behaviour ‘stupid’ as Flames playoff security increases
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