Calgary police investigate assault with a weapon amid concerns about hate at anti-mask protest

Calgary police say an investigation is underway into anassault with a weaponnear a protest against public health restrictions in the city on Saturday and arealso responding to criticisms thatofficers aren't doing enough enforcement at therallies, which have become a weekly occurrence in the city.

Hundreds gathered at Prince's Island Park this weekend to protest public health restrictions like mask mandates. Some protesters carried signs promoting QAnon conspiracy theories or concerns about 5G cellphone towers.

A short video circulating on social media, shotabout 200 metres from the primary location of the rally,shows aman wearing a T-shirt that reads "Proud White Christian Man" punchinga counter-protester in a wheelchair.

Police said in a release that a confrontation took place, but as "neither group was willing to cooperate with police to pursue the matter further no charges were laid in the incident."

Supt.Ryan Ayliffe told CBC News at that point, police weren't aware the incident may have involved a weapon.

"Subsequent to that, though, you know, we got more video and images posted and something's come to light that doesn't involve these two people," he said.

After more videos and photoscirculated of the incident, police say they are nowinvestigating a potentialassaultwitha flagpoleagainst a third person who was present during the confrontation.

Ayliffe says officers are doing their best in a complicated landscape.

"We're having multiple protests, multiple days. It's very tough [for]police, he said.

"I know that there's an expectation that we do more and we strive to do more with respect to enforcement we're trying to do it in a measured way,in a balanced way that shows that we're, you know, it's necessary and proportional to what what needs to be done."

No formal complaints about hate crimes at rallies, police say

Det. Craig Collins, hate crimes coordinator with CPS, said while messages of intolerance have been seen at the rallies the service hasn't investigated hate crimes associated with those events.

"Although I understand public perception I have yet to receive a formal complaint from anybody about a specific criminal act that has occurred at any of these rallies. Like I said earlier, CPS will investigate to its fullest, fullest extent to any criminal offence that is brought to us."

On Sunday, a woman was charged with attacking astranger wearing a hijab, berating her with racial slurs and punching her in the face in the same park where the rallies were held, but police say that incident isnot believed to be connected to the protests.

Calgary Police Service also addressed Sunday that officers at the protestwere seen wearing"thin blue line" patches a controversial symbol that has been banned by some forces, with critics concerned it increases divisiveness at a time police have been under scrutiny for their use of forcein policingBlack, Indigenous and people of colour.

"The origin of the thin blue line logo in Canadian policing is based on the foundation that is a dedication to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice we do, however, recognize the meaning can be interpreted differently by different people and this is something we are very aware of as we move forward as an organization," CPS said.

Police said a hate crime investigator and members from the diversity liaison team were present at the rallies, gathering evidence to potentially address issues in future.

The Calgary Police Commission is set to meet Tuesday, and commission member Heather Campbell wrote on Twitter that she'd encourage the public to share any concerns at the meeting about the weekend protests and police service's actions.

Police are also asking anyonewith photos or videos of alleged assault on Saturdayto call thepolice non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or submit a tipanonymously with Crime Stoppersat 1-800-222-8477.