Ko Wen-je Allegedly Sprayed with Pepper Spray; Taichung Precinct Chief's Test Spray Causes Chaos, Leads to Dismissal
Ko Wen-je was reportedly sprayed with pepper spray during a campaign event in Taichung. An investigation revealed that Precinct Chief Chou Chun-ming accidentally dispersed pepper spray he was testing, causing discomfort to attendees. Chou has been disciplined and faces legal action.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 16:25
- 🔍 Collected: April 20, 2026 at 16:31 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 17:06 (34 min after Collected)
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (CNA) -- An incident where former People First Party Chairman Ko Wen-je was allegedly sprayed with pepper spray in Fengjia Night Market on April 17th has led to disciplinary action against Taichung City Sixth Precinct Chief Chou Chun-ming, who was found to have accidentally caused the dispersal while testing the spray. Chou has been disciplined with a demerit and transferred, and will be sent to the prosecutor's office for legal proceedings.
Ko Wen-je was campaigning in Fengjia Night Market on the evening of April 17th with Liu Chin-yu, a candidate for Taichung City Councilor, when he was reportedly approached by an unknown assailant who sprayed pepper spray. Liu Chin-yu filed a personal injury lawsuit at the Sixth Precinct on April 18th, prompting the police to form a special task force and seek direction from the Taichung District Prosecutor's Office.
Taichung City Police Bureau held a press conference this afternoon at 3 p.m., with Police Director Wu Ching-tien explaining the investigation results.
The police stated that in addition to reviewing footage from officers' body cameras, they also examined surveillance footage from the scene, surrounding intersections, and private cameras along the campaign route. They also interviewed witnesses and stall vendors to clarify the incident.
After investigation, the police ruled out the two individuals reported to have arrived by scooter as suspects. They discovered that Commander Chou Chun-ming had sprayed pepper spray towards the ground during his duties. Investigations confirmed he did not spray it towards Ko Wen-je or the public, but it still caused discomfort to those campaigning and nearby citizens, who covered their mouths and noses.
The police believe Chou Chun-ming's choice to spray the damaged pepper spray canister towards the ground without instructing officers to remove it from the scene constituted serious negligence.
Police pointed out that Liu Chin-yu has filed a personal injury lawsuit, and Chou Chun-ming, as a supervisory cadre, acted in a flustered and improper manner. Consequently, he has been given two demerits, and it has been recommended to the National Police Agency to adjust him to a non-supervisory position. He has also been sent to the Taichung District Prosecutor's Office on charges of assault to ensure public trust.
Wu Ching-tien emphasized that as the director, he had failed in his supervisory duties and has requested disciplinary action for himself. He also expressed his deepest apologies for the panic and physical discomfort caused to the People First Party team and the public.
The Taichung City Police Bureau stressed that for the 2026 local elections, they will implement strict deployments to protect the safety of all candidates and rigorously conduct investigations into vote-buying, foreign interference in elections, and the crackdown on election gambling. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) 1150420
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Ko Wen-je was campaigning in Fengjia Night Market on the evening of April 17th with Liu Chin-yu, a candidate for Taichung City Councilor, when he was reportedly approached by an unknown assailant who sprayed pepper spray. Liu Chin-yu filed a personal injury lawsuit at the Sixth Precinct on April 18th, prompting the police to form a special task force and seek direction from the Taichung District Prosecutor's Office.
Taichung City Police Bureau held a press conference this afternoon at 3 p.m., with Police Director Wu Ching-tien explaining the investigation results.
The police stated that in addition to reviewing footage from officers' body cameras, they also examined surveillance footage from the scene, surrounding intersections, and private cameras along the campaign route. They also interviewed witnesses and stall vendors to clarify the incident.
After investigation, the police ruled out the two individuals reported to have arrived by scooter as suspects. They discovered that Commander Chou Chun-ming had sprayed pepper spray towards the ground during his duties. Investigations confirmed he did not spray it towards Ko Wen-je or the public, but it still caused discomfort to those campaigning and nearby citizens, who covered their mouths and noses.
The police believe Chou Chun-ming's choice to spray the damaged pepper spray canister towards the ground without instructing officers to remove it from the scene constituted serious negligence.
Police pointed out that Liu Chin-yu has filed a personal injury lawsuit, and Chou Chun-ming, as a supervisory cadre, acted in a flustered and improper manner. Consequently, he has been given two demerits, and it has been recommended to the National Police Agency to adjust him to a non-supervisory position. He has also been sent to the Taichung District Prosecutor's Office on charges of assault to ensure public trust.
Wu Ching-tien emphasized that as the director, he had failed in his supervisory duties and has requested disciplinary action for himself. He also expressed his deepest apologies for the panic and physical discomfort caused to the People First Party team and the public.
The Taichung City Police Bureau stressed that for the 2026 local elections, they will implement strict deployments to protect the safety of all candidates and rigorously conduct investigations into vote-buying, foreign interference in elections, and the crackdown on election gambling. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) 1150420
Stand with the facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom
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This website's text, images, and videos may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or transmitted and used without authorization.