Washik, 58, told The Canadian Press earlier this month that she was having a playful water gun fight with a child during a neighbourhood gathering when she accidentally sprayed Rochester in the chest.
Washik said that, despite her apologies, he called police. After Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) arrived, Washik said the officers didn’t ask her “a single question” and charged her with assault with a weapon. But Rochester’s security footage appears to show a different version of events.
Around 6 p.m. ET, Rochester is setting up his lawnmower on his front lawn when Washik walks over, the footage appears to show. No other people can be seen.
She stands at the end of his lawn and is heard saying, “Hey, how’s it going?”
Rochester doesn’t appear to respond and begins mowing his lawn while Washik watches him for several minutes, occasionally waving.
“It was very strange and creepy,” he told CBC.
Then, a boy crosses from the other side of the street and Washik appears to ask him for a water gun, making a flicking motion with her hands in the direction of Rochester.
The footage doesn’t capture the side of the house, where Rochester alleges he was intentionally sprayed.
I have to admit that I was on the water gun sprayer’s side when I first read the story. In hindsight, her “accidentally sprayed him in the chest” explanation definitely sounded weird and I guess I should have questioned it more.
The context and security footage change everything. Poor guy. Sounds like he’s the current victim of an expert bully and manipulator.