Rumours of another gaybashing at Centretown Pub, this time on Canada Day, are greatly exaggerated, says staff at the local gay watering hole. However, it appears that injuries were avoided because patrons acted quickly to protect a fellow Canada Day reveller.
Police confirm they were called to the scene in the early evening of July 1.
Constable Alain Boucher of the Ottawa Police Service says the altercation is under investigation. It is “not at this point” being investigated as a hate crime. No one is in custody. He would not comment on what charges might be laid.
“At this point, we don’t know where it is going to go from here,” he says.
According to Centretown Pub staffer Chris Larabie, the source of the yelling match was a complimentary catcall. Around 8pm, a customer sitting on the patio at the Centretown Pub allegedly yelled “nice ass” to a male passerby, who took offence.
The two became engaged in a loud, angry altercation. A bystander called the police, fearing that the screaming match would turn into a full-fledged violent fight. The passerby fled from the scene when the police were called.
An unknown patron can pat himself on the back, because he quickly dialed 9-1-1. Nothing too serious came of the incident because he did not stand around and wait for the situation to escalate. This time around, witnesses saw where the verbal argument was headed, and took action to stop it before someone was seriously injured.
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