Ottawa police said 50 criminal charges were laid over the Canada Day long weekend and 12 people were arrested.
Last Friday marked the first Canada Day in Ottawa with major in-person events since 2019. Thousands of tourists and residents came downtown to celebrate the holiday. In the mix were several hundred protesters associated with the Freedom Convoy movement that paralyzed downtown Ottawa in February.
Ottawa police went to work on June 29 with the introduction of the Downtown Vehicle Control Zone, which was intended to prevent another occupation of the city by vehicles.
Police said they arrested a dozen people in downtown Ottawa between June 29 and July 3, including people who were not involved in Canada Day events or protests. In addition to the 50 criminal charges, 4 charges under the Controlled Narcotic Substances and Substances Act have also been brought.
One man was arrested on Parliament Hill on June 29 for causing a disturbance. He was brought back to Toronto on an outstanding warrant.
On June 30, police charged a man with violation of release orders and Highway Traffic Act violations following a traffic stop on Highway 417 at Anderson Road.
Later that day, three people were arrested following an incident at the National War Memorial in which a police officer was allegedly choked. Charges include assaulting police, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault by strangulation. This incident occurred shortly after Canadian soldier James Topp, who is facing a court-martial for criticizing the government’s COVID-19 vaccine rules while in uniform, completed his cross-country walk protesting vaccine mandates. Hundreds of people had gathered at the War Memorial to hear Topp speak.
On Canada Day, a man was arrested and charged for allegedly pulling a knife on RCMP officers near LeBreton Flats after officers broke up an altercation. Two more people were arrested and face multiple assault charges after an attack at the ByWard Market.
On July 2, police arrested two people in a vehicle and seized a handgun. Several gun and drug charges have been filed. Patrol officers also seized a gun in Sandy Hill this afternoon and charged a man with drug and weapons offenses.
On July 3, police arrested a woman for public intoxication after allegedly spitting in an officer’s face. She also now faces an assault charge.
Ottawa police have not named any of the accused.
Police are also investigating paint on public property in Strathcona Park and on Wellington Street. Protesters painted messages for convoy organizers Pat King and Tamara Leach on Wellington Street on Canada Day. Police also said earlier they laid 19 impaired driving charges over the long weekend.
Ottawa bylaw pulled 121 vehicles from the vehicle control zone between June 29 and July 3 and issued 513 parking tickets.
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