Camp residents, activists arrested at Maple Ridge tent city
Posted February 24, 2019 9:18 pm.
Last Updated February 24, 2019 9:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS 1130) — Six people have been arrested at Anita’s Place tent city in Maple Ridge.
Mounties moved in Sunday to enforce a B.C. court injunction that allows the city to inspect structures and address fire safety issues, including removing fire accelerants and electrical connections, inside the camp. The court has allowed wood structures to remain.
RELATED: Maple Ridge can address fire risks at Anita Place tent city: court
Police say the six people were arrested for violating the injunction and other unspecified criminal code offences. All are scheduled to appear in court Monday.
“The police keep-the-peace duties ensure the safety of everyone involved which include the protesters, police officers, area residents, motorists, media, and City of Maple Ridge By-Laws and Fire Department employees. Police do have common law powers to create a safe operational exclusion zone to ensure public safety and police officer safety, similar to a traffic accident scene or search warrant where the police limit public access,” reads a press release from Ridge Meadows RCMP.
“This safe operational exclusionary zone is as small and brief as possible based on security and safety needs with a focus of allowing a safe and orderly working space for the implementation of the Court’s order. This is different from the “clean-up and return” full clearing order that the Supreme Court discussed in the Court’s decision.”
Earlier today, Alliance Against Displacement said in an email that five protestors and resident and founder of the camp, Dwayne Martin, had been arrested. They say he was arrested because he refused to be inspected, and he and five members of Alliance Against Displacement helped him barricade his doorway.
During an inspection Friday, the City of Maple Ridge says an electrical service panel for the camp was exposed to the elements and electrical connections were tampered with, so BC Hydro was asked to turn off the power.
It also says fire crews smelled propane in the area, and an inspection of an area around the propane tanks supplying gas for a warming tent, had its lock cut and one of the 80 pound tanks were tampered with.
The City moved in Saturday to start enforcing the court injunction, and found 75 propane tanks. On Sunday, they removed propane tanks, fuel cans, patio heaters, and a gas-powered generator.
