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'Average' Halloween night: Chilliwack RCMP

Nine people were taken into custody Halloween night, and police responded to several reports of rowdy teenagers roaming the streets.

Nine people were taken into custody Halloween night, and police responded to several reports of large groups of rowdy teenagers roaming the streets and setting off firecrackers.

But it was just "an average night" as far as policing goes on Halloween, RCMP Const Tammy Hollingsworth said.

"Although there were a few serious files, the majority of people were responsibly participating in the Halloween festivities and having a great time with their friends and families," she said.

The bad actors included one 18-year-old in a group of about 15 youths, who was arrested after he allegedly threw a firecracker at some families trick-or-treating in the Promontory area at about 8:15 p.m.

The families belonged to three off-duty police officers.

Hollingsworth said the incident started when one of the youths was asked by one of the officers to watch his language around his young children.

"The boy allegedly then threw a firecracker at the off-duty police officer, nearly missing his two young children who were sitting in a wagon," she said.

The off-duty officer identified himself as a police officer, and asked the boy and his friends to leave the area.

"The boy then allegedly threw rocks at the members and their families," Hollingsworth said, and when two of the officers tried to arrest the boy, a struggle ensued, and the third officer joined the fray.

"During the struggle, one of the off-duty officers was kicked in the head by another boy who was in the group," Hollingsworth said.

The 18-year-old was taken into custody and held until his father arrived to pick him up.

The investigation continues, and charges are anticipated.

Shortly after 2:30 a.m. police were called to a home in the 45600-block McIntosh Drive by a report of an armed robbery.

A 26-year-old Abbotsford man, known to police, allegedly threatened and assaulted a 20-year-old man visiting his girlfriend. The suspect allegedly forced the victim to drive to First Avenue where he stole the victim's cellphone and a large sum of cash.

That investigation also continues.

Earlier in the evening, at about 7:15 p.m. police were called to a home in the 45900-block of Yale by a report of a domestic assault.

A 52-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly assaulting her 54-year-old common-law husband.

The man was not seriously injured. The woman was held in custody pending a court appearance.

Police responded to 47 calls in Chilliwack during the night, compared to five in Agassiz, six in Hope and two in Boston Bar.

Hollingsworth said most of the Chilliwack calls for police were related to large groups of youths, firecracker use, and alcohol/drug use.

"Several fireworks were seized from people without permits to possess them," she said.

Police were also called upon to handle several large groups of teens - between 20 and 30 kids - smashing pumpkins, drinking, and setting off fireworks/firecrackers "common Halloween activity," Hollingsworth said.

About 40 RCMP officers worked the Halloween shift in the Upper Fraser Valley.