THUNDER BAY – The leader of the Thunder Bay Guardian Angels is defending the organization against allegations that its members were involved in an aggressive and physical altercation with a woman.
Reports of the incident began circulating through social media last week after a local resident reported seeing members of the Guardian Angels physically restraining a woman across the street from their May Street clubhouse last Thursday night.
But Ian Hodgkinson, leader of the Angel’s local chapter, sees the incident from a completely different perspective. Instead of a physical confrontation, Hodgkinson told tbnewswatch.com that he and at least two others were actually saving this woman’s life.
“There was an altercation with a young woman where I saw her in the street jumping in front of oncoming traffic. She was bleeding and obviously in need of assistance. There was a young man with her and they were going back and forth verbally. From what I saw I thought he had hit her,” Hodgkinson said.
“As soon as I got there it was very obvious she was intoxicated and the young man had bolted. She couldn’t stand, there was traffic coming. We guided her to the sidewalk and asked if she needed help, what’s happening, was she hurt. As soon as we did that we called 911.”
Officials with the Thunder Bay Police Service have confirmed that they did receive a 911 call from a Guardian Angels member, but they could not provide specific details.
Hodgkinson said the woman was extremely distraught and in a state of emotional distress.
“We said ‘please stay’ because I can’t let her go. It doesn’t matter if I’m a Guardian Angel or a police officer or a guy who makes cookies. If there’s somebody who needs help, threatening to commit suicide and lunging into oncoming traffic I think anybody would do the right thing and just say please wait until help arrives,” he said.
“With four other Guardian Angels and a social worker we stood beside the girl so she couldn’t hurt herself anymore.”
Hodgkinson said it would be “against protocol” for members of the Guardian Angels to get involved in a physical confrontation.
Members who go out on patrols are prepared to exercise restraint and to not engage in physical confrontations. He described the group as being about “anti-violence.”
“We specifically dedicate a good portion of our weekly meetings to scenario based trainings. I constantly preach that no matter how hard they spit, push or provoke you can’t react because that’s what they want,” he said.
Mayor Keith Hobbs accompanied Hodgkinson for a walk around Monday night and described the Guardian Angels as a “community watch” group and said they are “here to stay.”
“These people are professionals. They’re trained and know what to do in situations,” he said. “They’re here to help the city of Thunder Bay.”
