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GraceLife Church as an entity has been charged for breaching COVID-19 public health orders, RCMP said Wednesday.
On March 4, legal counsel for the church was served with a summons to attended Stony Plain provincial court on May 5, police said in a news release.
The church was charged for exceeding the 15 per cent allowable capacity for services held on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28, contrary to the Public Health Act.
RCMP confirmed the most recent Sunday service again did not comply with the public health order of 15 per cent capacity. While officers were present for public safety and to support Alberta Health Services (AHS), they did not go inside the church.
GraceLife Church had originally been ordered by AHS to immediately close on Jan. 29 as a result of continuing capacity restriction violations and not adhering to physical distancing.
The latest charge comes after GraceLife Church pastor James Coates was charged on Feb. 7 for holding services that violated COVID-19 orders.
He was taken into custody on Feb. 16 after another service was held and remains in custody at the Edmonton Remand Centre after refusing to agree to bail conditions that he does not hold service over capacity and attendants adhere to physical distancing.
Coates is expected to remain in custody until his trial scheduled for May 3-5.
AHS, supported by Parkland RCMP, continue their investigation into the church.
