Three bear spray incidents in a 24-hour period had Chilliwack RCMP officers hopping from Tuesday (Aug. 26) into the early hours of Wednesday (Aug. 27)
Police arrested a teen suspect in the third and most serious of three incidents, where a group altercation at Sardis Secondary led to one person being sprayed.
"Officers quickly identified and arrested a 15-year-old suspect nearby," said Sgt. Alexandra Mulvihill.
"The youth was found to be in breach of court-imposed conditions prohibiting possession of weapons and was held in custody for court proceedings on August 27."
Bear spray is a prohibited weapon under the Criminal Code when used against people.
It was "over a short period between August 26 and the early hours of August 27, 2025, Chilliwack RCMP responded to three separate incidents involving the illegal use of bear spray in public spaces."
The first incident occurred at Central Park, where a 14-year-old was sprayed and required emergency medical assistance.
The second took place outside a local pub, where a known individual was attacked but declined to pursue an investigation.
But the most serious incident was the one near Sardis Secondary, where a group had gathered and someone was targeted.
The City of Chilliwack enacted a bylaw regulating who can buy bear spray and requires sellers to document sales.
"Despite these measures, bear spray continues to be misused, particularly by youth," the officer noted.
"The Chilliwack RCMP remain committed to enforcing both federal laws and municipal bylaws.
"Officers will continue to work with local businesses to ensure compliance and will pursue charges against individuals who illegally possess or use bear spray."
