By Canadian Press

Trial hears ‘Freedom Convoy’ was harder to police as it dragged on

Sep 6, 2023 | 4:50 PM

OTTAWA – A police officer testifying at the trial for two ‘Freedom Convoy’ organizers tells a judge that as the protest dragged on, it became harder and harder to police demonstrators who were breaking laws.

Insp. Russell Lucas was called by the Crown as a witness on the second day of the trial for Tamara Lich, from Medicine Hat, and Chris Baber, two of the convoy’s main organizers and the first to answer for their charges of mischief.

He tells the court that initially, protesters co-operated with police as more than 5,000 trucks rolled into Ottawa in late January of 2022.

But Russell testifies that as the days passed and protesters refused to leave, officers were more likely to get swarmed as they tried to enforce the law.

He says, for instance, more backup was needed as police tried to stop protesters setting off fireworks near the National War Memorial.

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The Crown’s case against Lich and Barber rests on establishing its assertion that the pair orchestrated the blockades on downtown Ottawa streets and encouraged supporters to stay as police ordered them gone.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept.6, 2023.

The Canadian Press