One individual intent on partying his way through the pandemic wound up in jail for the holidays after repeatedly ignoring COVID-19 measures.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) stated today (December 30) that officers had issued several warnings and tickets over several weeks to a 24-year-old man at a Downtown Vancouver apartment for violating the provincial public health order banning parties and gatherings.

Since September, Vancouver police have received 12 complaints about noise and parties at his apartment. Officers issued two $2,300 tickets to him earlier this month.

After police received another complaint about a loud party at his place on December 18, the VPD worked with Crown counsel to obtain a warrant.

Officers arrested him on December 25, and he spent Christmas in jail until he was released on Boxing Day.

“He made clear that he has no plans to stop, so our officers obtained an arrest warrant and he spent Christmas in jail,” VPD Sgt. Steve Addison stated in a news release.

He has been charged under Section 99 of the Public Health Order.

Although he is released, he is under bail conditions: he must now answer the door if police knock, must comply with all provincial health orders, and can only have two other people in his residence. If he violates these conditions, he can be arrested again.

The VPD is neither providing his name nor the location of his residence.

The COVID-19 Related Measures Act bans social gatherings of any size inside residences.

The VPD stated that it has issued 21 tickets for unlawful social gatherings since the Public Health Order took effect.

With New Year’s Eve tomorrow night (December 31), the VPD issued several reminders.

The VPD is asking everyone to abide by public health orders and to celebrate only with household members.

In addition, the VPD is asking people not to go out after 10 p.m. The fine for liquor consumption in public is $230. Liquor enforcement will take place in the entertainment districts and near transit stations.

Any violations of the COVID-19 Related Health Measures Act, including social gatherings, can be reported to 311. Calls to 911 should be for emergencies only.

The VPD stated that additional officers will be on patrol, including in Gastown and the Granville entertainment districts. The latter was where many partiers gathered in large numbers without practising health measures on Halloween.

CounterAttack road blocks will be in effect as well.