An Abbotsford woman who was previously charged for bear-spraying a local videographer has had another offence added in relation to an incident that preceded that attack.
Christina Violet Bentley, 39, was charged on Nov. 17 with uttering threats.
Bentley was first charged on Oct. 22 with assault with a weapon. This was the day after cameraman Kevin MacDonald, who does freelance work for several media outlets including the Abbotsford News, was bear-sprayed while filming the homeless camp on Gladys Avenue.
MacDonald had been hired by CTV News to film the site as part of their piece on the B.C. Supreme Court decision which ruled that the homeless can camp overnight in parks.
MacDonald had situated himself near the Mennonite Central Committee building across from the camp. Several minutes later, an angry woman crossed the street and came toward him, yelling that he couldn’t film her.
She was carrying a can of bear spray, which she then released on him. MacDonald was treated by paramedics on the scene, but suffered the effects of the bear spray for several days.
A few minutes before MacDonald was attacked, Abbotsford News reporter Laura Rodgers had also been at the scene. The same woman threatened to break Rodgers’ camera and to bear-spray her, but Rodgers quickly departed before any assault occurred.
Bentley’s next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 21.
