UPDATE: More than 100 people arrested by police as officers crack down on convoy occupation zone
Posted Feb 18, 2022 09:07:00 PM.
Police confirmed that more than 100 protesters have so far been arrested and 21 vehicles towed during Friday’s head-to-head between protesters and officers in Ottawa's downtown occupied zone.
ARRESTS / ARRESTATIONS: 100+
VEHICLES TOWED / VEHICULES REMORQUÉS : 21
STREETS CLEARED / RUES DÉGAGÉES: Officers have successfully moved protesters past the intersection of Mackenzie Avenue on Rideau Street.#ottnews #ottnouvelles #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/EghPxgJpLY
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 18, 2022
In addition to these arrests, a video posted online appears to show organizer Pat King being arrested as he was in his vehicle, live streaming the arrest earlier Friday afternoon. Two other convoy organizers were also arrested in the past 24 hours.
Police said officers have successfully moved protesters past the intersection of Mackenzie Avenue and Rideau Street. Earlier in the day, a large cluster of protesters were congregating in front of the Chateau Laurier hotel.
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 18, 2022
At various times throughout the afternoon, police were seen in full riot gear in grey suits and face shields as they continued out their operations. Sûreté du Quebec officers also donned gas masks.
While some protesters have cleared out and some trucks have left the area, protesters — some with children and animals — remain.
A tweet sent out by Ottawa police said some protesters were putting kids between themselves and cops as police closed in on the Parliament Hill encampment.
In a later tweet, police said found children will be brought to a place of safety.
Protestors have put children between police operations and the unlawful protest site.
The children will be brought to a place of safety.
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 18, 2022
Several times throughout the day on social media and through speakers in the crowd, police told protesters to immediately remove their vehicles and property from all unlawful protest sites.
Anyone within the unlawful protest site may be arrested.
DEMONSTRATORS: You must leave. You must cease further unlawful activity and immediately remove your vehicle and/or property from all unlawful protest sites. Anyone within the unlawful protest site may be arrested. pic.twitter.com/txDattNRE4
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 18, 2022
Police started Friday morning, forming a line on Rideau Street and moving in on protesters. They were followed by armoured vehicles from the RCMP.
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 18, 2022
Officers were seen trekking through the snow and coming to a head with demonstrators along the way.
Cops could be heard shouting, “Move” to protesters as they inched the line closer toward their destination of Parliament Hill.
As the demonstration came to a halt at the intersection of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive, protesters were heard playing music and singing the national anthem as they built up snow walls and laid signs around the remaining big rigs in the road.
What you are seeing are Public Order Units in a line formation. Protestors are continuously being told to leave, or they face arrest.
You will see the line slowly moving forward to give people who want to leave the opportunity to do so.
#ottawa #ottnews pic.twitter.com/5hUo9NuuNi— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) February 18, 2022
Transit tow vehicles from the City of Ottawa and other companies line streets in the area. Names of the tow truck companies have been blocked out with police crests.
This is the scene on Nicholas #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Q10FXMcCjs
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) February 18, 2022
As reported by Coun. Catherine McKenney, progress was made on Bank Street in Centretown. McKenney is pictured with councillors Jeff Leiper and Shawn Menard walking a nearly empty street.
We are out on Bank St in Centretown where it feels…peaceful. #Breathe #StaySafe @JLeiper @ShawnMenard1 pic.twitter.com/LwsdZCL42E
— Catherine McKenney (they/them) (@cmckenney) February 18, 2022
More to come.
