More resources on the way; more arrests made, more tickets given during truck convoy protest: Sloly

More arrests have been made and more tickets handed out to convoy truck protesters as fractions of those 1,800 requested additional resources make their way to Ottawa to assist in the local police force.

In an update on Thursday, February 10, Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly confirmed that while Ottawa doesn’t have all of the 1,800 additional personnel they have requested for reinforcement, more officers continue to be sworn in day by day and more are expected to join over the next 12 to 48 hours.

However, Sloly does add that 250 RCMP officers continue to be sworn in and incorporated into the daily operations.

More announcement about resources will be expect in real time as they come in.

The additional resources are not only in response to what has happened in the capital, but in anticipation for what will be a third consecutive weekend of the protest that is likely to see more trucks and people join in.

The added support will come from the 12 major police agencies across Ontario, as well as OPP and the RCMP.

“We expect more demonstrations are coming to the city this weekend,” Sloly said. “To those thinking about coming: do not come. Any of you who are planning to come here and commit offences: don’t.”

As of Thursday, 25 arrests have been made in relation to criminal charges that include public mischief, resisting police, flight from police, CDSA possession Schedule I, drive disqualified, breach of probation, menacing and transportation of fuel.

On top of that, more than 1,550 tickets have been issued by by-law and police that were issued for situations like excessive noise, use of fireworks, failure to drive in marked lane, red light violations, driving through a no truck route, seatbelt violation, driving a motor vehicle on a sidewalk, cellphone, disobeying a sign, improper muffler, tint (too dark), obstruction license plate, failure to produce documents, stunt driving (vehicle seized), suspended license and no insurance.

There are also 126 ongoing criminal investigations in relation to the demonstration and over 400 hate crimes that are also being investigated.

Police have received nearly 1,000 calls for service in relation to the demonstration since the events started on January 29.

Several vehicle have been seized and towed, including one stolen truck and an abandoned vehicle in a roadway.