Freezing rain did not deter criminal activity on Halloween night in Williams Lake, said RCMP inspector Warren Brown this morning.
"Twenty people were lodged in cells in Williams Lake on Halloween night."
Shortly after 9:00 p.m. the RCMP responded to a complaint of a home invasion on Barnard Street.
Multiple calls were received about a group of people who had burst into a residence armed with machetes, bats, and bear spray.
Once inside the residence, the suspects attempted to assault the residents, although the residents were successful in securing themselves in a locked room.
The assailants then completely ransacked the interior of the residence using extreme violence.
When police attended, after a foot pursuit with several of the suspects, police managed to corner the assailants at a residence on Pinchbeck St.
A hostile and uncooperative group of 12 people believed to be involved were arrested.
Fortunately, the victims did not suffer any injuries; however, there is extensive damage to the residence on Barnard Street along with the three vehicles parked at the residence, one of which was stolen and recovered during the incident.
Brown said the home owners did not invite this activity nor did they know the assailants.
"They unfortunately got caught in between a conflict between this large group and one individual, a neighbour, that they were trying to help."
The investigation is on going and suspects remain in custody.
All suspects are well known to the police and were all adults, except for one. Some with gang affiliation, Brown told the Tribune.
Just after midnight, the RCMP were called to a residence on Pigeon Ave for a fight in progress.
Upon police arrival , several of the suspects fled from the scene.
These suspects were armed with bear spray. Again after a foot chase, three suspects were arrested.
All combatants were known to each other.
"This was a busy Halloween night compared to other yrs. We are usually well staffed and prepared to take a higher volume of calls for service," Brown said.
With files from the Williams Lake RCMP