A Simcoe, Ont., woman is facing a charge of assault with a weapon over an incident where, she says, she accidentally struck a neighbour in the chest with water from a child’s water gun.
Ontario Provincial Police say 58-year-old Wendy Washik was taken into custody after an investigation on Sunday, Sept. 1.
OPP say police determined two people were involved in a “dispute” that resulted in a victim being physically assaulted but no injuries were reported.
Washik says she was having a playful water gun fight with a child at a party when she accidentally sprayed water on a neighbour’s chest.
She says that despite her apologies, the man called police, which ultimately led to her being charged.
Asked to confirm the weapon used was a water gun, OPP spokesperson Const. Andrew Gamble says it would be “inappropriate” to comment on specifics of the case.
Washik said police “didn’t ask me a single question. They didn’t ask to see the water gun. Not one question asked… My husband was in disbelief.”
“I apologized several times,” she said. “He wouldn’t listen to me and he was screaming at me.”
The water gun belonged to the child she was playing with and was no bigger than the length of her elbow to the tip of her finger, she said.
Washik said she is an educational assistant with the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board and cannot return to work until the case is settled. She told CBC News “I totally understand why I am off work. I work with parents. I work with children. It’s publicly funded.”
Washik’s daughter has started a fundraising campaign to raise money for her legal fees ahead of her scheduled court appearance on Sept. 24.
“I’ve been so stressed, mentally and financially,” she said.
Washik said the situation has put a strain on her family but she’s “astounded” by the support she’s received.
“People I haven’t talked to for probably 10-15 years have reached out,” she said. “I think without that it would have been much, much harder.”