Law enforcement is asking the public to "exercise good judgment" following a higher-than-normal response to disturbance calls at a Tri-Cities summer hot spot.
Port Moody police (PMPD) had to break up a brawl of 20 people and arrest a man for threatening a park ranger, while city bylaw officers issued dozens of tickets and towed several vehicles for parking illegally at Sasamat Lake.
And all of the above took place the last three days over the August long weekend.
According to PMPD spokesperson Const. Sam Zacharias, the majority of the calls to the təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park site were related to poor behaviour and disorderly conduct.
Police received reports of a "large brawl" that erupted around the 9 p.m. closing time on Saturday (July 30), which led to minor injures for several that were involved.
The file is still under investigation and it's unclear what started the confrontation, as of this publication (Aug. 2).
The next day (July 31), PMPD officers returned to Sasamat Lake and arrested "an inebriated man" for uttering threats to a park ranger.
Zacharias stresses that Sasamat Lake is supposed to be a family-friendly destination.
"Liquor and intoxicating substances are prohibited; violators will be ticketed and ejected from the park," he says in a statement, noting there were dozens of liquor pour-outs that led to patron ejections over the long weekend.
As well, it appears parking continues to be a problem for most commuters that choose to drive to təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park.
Port Moody city bylaw officers issued 40 violation tickets for illegally parked vehicles and several were found in designated tow-away zones along Bedwell Bay Road, which impedes first responders in an emergency.
"We want to remind the public that Sasamat parking lots fill up very quickly and we encourage motorists to arrive very early or take public transit to the lake," adds Zacharias.
"The Port Moody Police Department continues to work closely with Metro Vancouver park staff, City of Port Moody Bylaws and Coquitlam Towing to ensure the lake remains a safe environment for all users."
The messy three days come more than a month after PMPD's busy response to Sasamat Lake over the first full weekend of summer.
A total of 20 vehicles were towed and 70 tickets were issued in two days to visitors that parked illegally from June 25 and 26.
"We certainly recommend park attendees to arrive early in the day or plan to use public transit, leave the liquor and cannabis at home, and report all suspicious activity and emergencies to us right away," Zacharias told the Tri-City News in an earlier interview.
Seasonal pay parking at təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park is currently in effect until Sept. 30 at $2 per hour and $12 a day.
For more information, you can visit Metro Vancouver's website.
