What began as a standard by-law enforcement call on Wolf Street turned into a chaotic scene involving arrests, drug charges, and an alleged assault on a city official.
According to Peterborough Police, officers from the Community F.I.R.S.T. team accompanied City of Peterborough by-law enforcement to the location around 8 a.m. on Tuesday for what's known as a keep-the-peace standby — a routine procedure where police provide security during enforcement actions.
During that visit, officers spotted a 33-year-old woman they recognized as having active warrants against her. Police took her into custody and discovered she was wanted on multiple outstanding charges: two separate counts of breaching probation conditions, two counts of violating an undertaking, and two theft charges involving property valued below $5,000.
The situation grew more complicated when officers conducting a search discovered a glass pipe along with materials suspected to be illegal drugs. That discovery led to an additional charge of possessing a Schedule I substance. The woman remained in custody and appeared before a judge on September 2.
While police were processing the first arrest, a second woman at the scene became agitated by what was unfolding. Police say the 55-year-old Peterborough resident physically attacked one of the by-law officers present.
Officers arrested her on an assault charge. During processing, police discovered she was already under a probation order that specifically required her to maintain good behavior and avoid trouble with the law. That existing order resulted in an additional charge of breaching probation conditions.
Unlike the first woman arrested, the 55-year-old was not held in custody. She was freed under an undertaking — a legal document outlining conditions she must follow — and has a court date set for November 24.
The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of routine enforcement work and the risks faced by both police and municipal by-law officers in our community.
