On July 26, near Houston, British Columbia, RCMP officers encountered a group of about 30 protesters who blew air horns at police and kicked and damaged a cruiser.
Officers, who were on a routine patrol on Morris River Forest Service roads that day, stopped a vehicle at 44 km that had been the subject of multiple complaints from the previous week. police statement Published July 28th.
As police interacted with the people inside the vehicle, one male passenger continued to blow the air horn at the police in an attempt to stop the investigation. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of obstruction of justice and obstruction of justice. However, as the man was being put into the back seat of a police car, about 30 protesters from nearby camps used their vehicles to sabotage the car.
Several people got into the police car, shook it, and one kicked it.
When additional police reinforcements were called in from other RCMP detachments in Houston, Brunslake, and Smithers, the protesters dispersed and returned to camp. Police then transferred the arrested man to the Houston RCMP detachment. could be transferred. The man was later released unconditionally.
Chief Superintendent John Brewer praised the officers at the scene, saying, “They have demonstrated excellence in de-escalating a serious situation after being surrounded by a disorderly crowd.”
“Police officers are trained to ensure that the rights of all to participate in lawful, peaceful and safe protests are protected. Situations like this are unacceptable.Violence is a crime and we will take action against those who participate in these illegal acts,” he said.
Several protesters went to the Houston RCMP detachment to assist the arrested man. This included a woman whom police suspected was the same person who “consistently banged the drum directly into the officers’ ears.” She is also believed to have kicked and damaged a police car during a confrontation on a forest road. She was arrested and charged with assaulting and pranking a police officer.
Police said the woman was later identified as someone other than the person responsible for damaging the patrol car police were searching for.
The arrested man and woman are scheduled to appear in court on October 24, 2022.
The protesters were reportedly participants in a four-day event at the Gidimt’en camp, near where a confrontation with RCMP officers took place. Organized by the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief, the event aims to invite indigenous leaders, politicians and environmental groups to join the opposition to the Coastal Gas Link (CGL) pipeline. reported to have been Narwhal,
(coastal gas link)
CGL’s Morice River drill pad site is also in the nearby area, where a violent attack on company staff and facilities occurred earlier this year.
On February 17, the RCMP received a call from CGL Security at a drill site reportedly attacked by 20 people armed with axes. The attackers attacked security guards, smashed windows and left “significant damage” to heavy machinery, fences and movable buildings.
CGL is working on a 670-kilometer pipeline construction project across the traditional area of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in northwest BC. CGL said the project has the full support, but not opposition, of the elected leaders of all Indigenous groups along the pipeline. By Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and environmentalists who want to give it up.
In the past three years, the RCMP has enforced three court orders against blockades set by the mayors and their supporters on pipeline projects.
The company said in a statement July 28 statement The project is 66% complete overall and is expected to reach 70% overall by the end of this summer.
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Andrew Chen is a reporter for the Epoch Times based in Toronto.