Assault accusation, more arrests on Burnaby Mountain
Posted March 21, 2018 4:32 pm.
Last Updated March 21, 2018 6:12 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BURNABY (NEWS 1130) – Mounties say they’ve arrested more than a dozen people involved in ongoing protests at the Kinder Morgan facility in Burnaby.
Among them is one woman who was taken into custody for reportedly assaulting a security person. “A security individual called us because two people had climbed on top of an incoming truck and were attempting to impede them coming into the area,” explains Sgt. Janelle Shoihet with Burnaby RCMP.
She says it was when the security guard pulled out a camera that the woman got down from the truck and started running toward him. “Allegedly slapped the camera out of his hand, causing it to break on the ground. So she has been arrested and at this point still remains in custody.”
According to Mounties, 15 others were “peacefully arrested” for “breaching a court ordered injunction” which requires them to stay at least five metres away from the Trans Mountain facilities.
“For the most part, it was similar to what we’ve seen in the past number of days,” Shoihet says. “There were a number of people breaching the court order just sitting peacefully, obstructing traffic and of those people, 15 demonstrators were ultimately arrested. They were given the opportunity, read the injunction and given the opportunity to leave, and when they failed to do so they were arrested and they have since been released.”
They are expected to be in court within the coming weeks.
With even more protests planned, Mounties say they’re taking it day-by-day and will continue to monitor the situation. “As long as the injunction’s in place, our job is to uphold the injunction and the law as it is.”
Shoihet says the RCMP appreciates those who are demonstrating peacefully. “We understand and appreciate that people have the right to demonstrate and for peaceful protest. We appreciate the fact that people have been cooperative.”
