Police ticket dozens of Aylmer church goers for allegedly flouting stay-at-home order

Police in Aylmer, Ont., said they have identified 47 members of a local church congregationwho allegedly gathered to worship in-person on Sunday in anopen act of defiance against Ontario's pandemic stay-at-home order.

The stay-at-home order was imposed by the Ontario government on Boxing Day in an effort to curtail rising COVID-19 case numbers before they spiralled out of control.

The Aylmer Police Service said Mondayit would review video of the Sunday service posted to social media, which showed church goers listening to a sermon and singing together,in order to identify those in attendance.

Pastor Henry Hildebrandtreportedly ledabout 75 people into the Church of God building in the small town.

Investigators said Wednesday 47 people were identified, 29 of whom lived in the Aylmer, Ont., area and 18 of whom travelled to the church from as far away as the Greater Toronto Area.

"Community safety and wellbeing and enforcement of laws is a top priority for Aylmer Police Service during this global pandemic. We are asking citizens, businesses and faith-based groups to be part of the solution and not a problem by abiding to the current restrictions to protect our community," a social media post by the law enforcement agency said.

If convicted, the worshippers face a possible $880 fine.