An RCMP officer testified Tuesday that it was tough to search out anybody in cost within the early days of the COVID-era border blockade at Coutts, Alta., two years in the past.
Sgt. Greg Tulloch was known as as a witness on the trial of Alex Van Herk, Marco Van Huigenbos and Gerhard (George) Janzen.
The three males have pleaded not responsible to mischief over $5,000.
Crown prosecutors have instructed jurors they intend to show the trio spearheaded the protest that tied up site visitors between on the Canada-United States border for 2 weeks in a protest of COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions.
Tulloch testified he and his associate arrived Feb. 1, 2022 to spell off two different officers tasked with speaking with the protesters.
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“Usually, the purpose was to speak that the freeway wanted to be reopened and what that will appear to be,” Tulloch mentioned.
He mentioned he and one other officer entered the Saloon, a gathering place the place protesters had been gathering, to introduce themselves and say just a few phrases.
“I simply went straight in to explaining why we’re there and (that) the aim of the assembly was to clarify it was now time to make preparations to clear up the freeway,” mentioned Tulloch.
“There was one one who got here to the entrance of the gang and gave the impression to be talking on behalf of the gang. He had issues to say. He had questions. I spoke to him and everyone else instantly.”
In a video of the encounter, Tulloch will be heard addressing the group of protesters.
“What are you going to do subsequent? How lengthy are you able to keep?” the officer asks on the video.
A person Tulloch recognized as Janzen mentioned they wouldn’t be leaving.
“He gave the impression to be representing the group as a singular voice for the group,” Tulloch testified.
Tulloch mentioned he met Van Huigenbos and Van Herk a pair days later and that they appeared to emerge as leaders as effectively.
“I don’t assume they had been on my radar previous to that. I didn’t know who they had been,” Tulloch instructed the trial.
He mentioned he was in a position to get impressions from the three males about how the blockade was going.
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