Charges expected after latest indoor service at Aylmer, Ont., church

The Aylmer Police Service said they will be laying another chargeagainst a churchthat has continuously flouted provincewide emergency orders.

On Sunday, The Church of God inAylmer held yet anotherindoor servicethat exceededthe 10-person cap at religious indoor gatherings under the current provincewide shutdown.

Alivestreamof the service posted to YouTube showed several unmasked churchgoers singing and not following physical distancing measures.

While it's unknown exactlyhow many people were inside the church, there were at least 120 vehicles parked outside the church, according toAylmer police Deputy Chief Nick Novacich.

"We are enforcing what we can currently," Novacich told CBC News, adding that officers were in the area gathering the appropriate evidence to take to court.

The church, as a corporation, as well as a couple of people who have an active role in the services taking place, will be charged under the Reopening Ontario Act, Novacich said.

"There are some limitationsin the way the legislation is written, despite some of the action people may think we can takeagainst the church," he said.

"When you look into theprovisions within the Ontario Act, it'svery complicated ... I can assure[people] thatwe're exercising every option that we can to lay the appropriate charges and provide all the information that we can."

Two weeks ago, the church's pastor,Henry Hildebrandt, was foundin contempt for defying a court injunction issued back in February. That matter is set to go back to court on May 13.