Suspect sprays McMaster students with 'aerosol irritant' at party, 2 sent to hospital

Hamilton police say two students were taken to hospital with non-critical injuries after a suspect sprayed an "aerosol​ irritant" during a party near McMaster University Friday night.

Police say they responded to numerous calls around 11:45 p.m. Friday of an incident near Aylett Street and Mapes Avenue in Ainslie Wood. 

When officers arrived, a number of students were already out on the street. Between 10 and 15 students total were affected by the spray. 

According to Staff Sgt. Steve Hahn, the two students were sent to hospital as a precaution.

"They were having some challenges breathing as a result of the exposure," Hahn said. 

We're trying to do everything we can, but we also can't control what people, as adults, do in the community. That's where the police come in.- Andrea Farquhar, McMaster University's associate vice-president of communications and public affairs

Hahn said police are looking for a male suspect, 20, with brown hair and a white T-shirt. 

While the investigation is still ongoing, police say the suspect most likely didn't know many people at the gathering. 

"Probably an unwanted guest," Hahn said. 

This is just the latest in a large string of incidents plaguing the area around the university in recent weeks. 

Police officers have flooded Westdale multiple times — as recently as this week — after more than a dozen reports of a prowler breaking into people's homes. 

Some residents have reported waking up to someone standing in the doorway of their bedrooms, or a person peering into their windows.

Police have not made any arrests in relation to those incidents.

Then on Sept. 8, an 18-year-old from Kingston who was going to McMaster was walking home from a party with some friends when he was jumped and stabbed in the neck. The student was rushed to hospital to be treated for a serious injury.

Again, no arrests have been made.

Andrea Farquhar, McMaster's associate vice-president of communications and public affairs, told CBC News that the university is working with police and providing support to students. 

She said the pepper spray, prowler and stabbing are a "coincidence of incidents," and it is "all unfortunate that they have happened."

"We're trying to do everything we can, but we also can't control what people, as adults, do in the community. That's where the police come in," she said. 

The university had actually planned an increased information blitz focusing on safety and partying this fall, after a massive street party in Westdale last year drew 2,000 revellers. 

"That was unusual for us," Farquhar said.

"We're really trying to inform students about the dangers of these sorts of parties," she said.

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