Washik, 58, told The Canadian Press earlier this month that she was having a playful water gun fight with a child during a neighbourhood gathering when she accidentally sprayed Rochester in the chest.
Washik said that, despite her apologies, he called police. After Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrived, Washik said the officers didn’t ask her “a single question” and charged her with assault with a weapon. But Rochester’s security footage appears to show a different version of events.
Around 6 p.m. ET, Rochester is setting up his lawnmower on his front lawn when Washik walks over, the footage appears to show. No other people can be seen.
She stands at the end of his lawn and is heard saying, “Hey, how’s it going?”
Rochester doesn’t appear to respond and begins mowing his lawn while Washik watches him for several minutes, occasionally waving.
“It was very strange and creepy,” he told CBC.
Then, a boy crosses from the other side of the street and Washik appears to ask him for a water gun, making a flicking motion with her hands in the direction of Rochester.
The footage doesn’t capture the side of the house, where Rochester alleges he was intentionally sprayed.
Maybe I’m a big fucking prude but this does sound like harrassment to me. It sounds like a bunch of racist neighbors trying to bully and make a problem out of this guy.
I have to say that hearing this story initially, then reading this update has made me question how I might jump to conclusions.
The security footage sounds really damning. In the least, it proves the woman lied about the police not talking to her. Her and the neighbors cursing at the guy suddenly makes the “neighbors agree this guy just complains a lot” fact a lot more suspect.
In all, I can totally see this might be a case of racist neighbors, and not simply “police charge teaching assistant with a water gun with assault.”
I’m glad the CBC is revisiting the story now that they have the other side.
