A concerned North Bay parent is worried after a scary incident occurred last Friday on the pedestrian bridge which runs over the Highway 11/17 bypass in North Bay.
A film of the incident shows two teenagers walking back after aggression was shown by an individual who had set up a bed inside the pedestrian bridge.
"It is disturbing," said the concerned parent whose son was involved but not injured in the incident.
"I don't think my son was ever in danger but you never know. He handled himself well. It is a common bridge and my concern is that it needs to be cleaned off if people are staying there. It is a very small area. You have to pass by and if there is some aggression there is nowhere to go and there really is no other way to go around there. We don't want to have kids crossing the highway when there is a bridge to be used. It just has to happen."
A Good Samaritan filmed the incident and helped the teenagers get by safely.
"We helped a couple of young lads get across the bridge because some crazy junkie thinks he's tough with a 2 x 4 until we went up and had a little chat with him," said Clinton Commanda via social media.
"The kids got home safe."
David Woolley, corporate communications officer with the North Bay Police Services says the incident was not reported.
"The North Bay Police Service views any report of an individual acting aggressively towards others with concern," Woolley stated in an email to BayToday.
"In this specific instance, we do not have information to show that this incident was reported to the police. We encourage everyone who experiences or witnesses a suspicious incident or what they believe to be a criminal activity to file a formal report with the North Bay Police Service. The North Bay Police Service can be contacted at 705-497-5555."
The parent reached out to North Bay Mayor Al McDonald about the incident. Like many other students, his son will be using that bridge daily in September when his son walks to school at Chippewa Secondary School.
"I reached out to the mayor and he heard my concerns and understands what they are," he said.
"At the same time there is not a whole lot we can do so I am hoping in the future they look at these things and find a plan. I know there is no easy solution but I am hoping that, as a community, we can find a plan to help deal with these issues."
As early as Tuesday morning, area residents using the bridge had to walk past a sleeping homeless person inside.
This is not the first time squatters have set up on the Pedestrian Bridge which is technically MTO property.
See related: Police and parents concerned about Chippewa walking bridge squatters
Back in February residents and students using the bridge were also worried about squatters who set up inside the bridge. After that incident, officials with the Near North School Board (Chippewa Secondary School) only stated they have no control over the use of public space.
