Toronto police investigate reports 2 officers charged at Aylmer church for allegedly defying COVID-19 rules

The Toronto Police Service isinvestigating reports two of its off-duty officers were among people charged at a gathering at anAylmer, Ont., church known for its rebellious stance against Ontario's pandemic health rules.

Connie Osborne, a spokesperson for Torontopolice, said in an email Friday to CBC News that TPSis aware of a social media video that's been circulating and the information has been passed on to the law enforcement agency'sProfessional Standards Investigation Unit.

The video was published Thursday on social media channels belonging to Independent MPP Randy Hillier, who has taken defiant stances onthe government's public health measures.

"Watch this video of Police Officers being charged for exercising their Charter rights," saysHillier."You won't hear this in the news, but two officers attending a meeting in the Aylmer Church of God and practicing their right to assembly have been charged under the Reopening Ontario Act," he said on Facebook.

Complaints focused on large gathering

The two off-duty officers were reportedly among four people charged by the Aylmer Police Service on Tuesday nightat the Church of Godin connection withcomplaints about a large gathering at the house of worship.

Each of the following individuals was given an $880 ticket under the provincial act:

• A man, 42, from the Toronto suburb of North York.
• A woman, 41, from the Toronto suburb ofScarborough.
• Two men, 34 and 20, from Aylmer.

CBC News has tried to confirm the identities of the two individuals from the Greater Toronto Area, but the Aylmerand Toronto police services, and Ontario's Ministry of the Attorney General were unable to verify the information.