A sign is placed on a patrol SUV from the Ottawa Police on Metcalfe St. during protests in Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022. (Noé Chartier/The Epoch Times)
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The Ottawa Police Service announced on Feb. 1 it made its first arrests related to the “Freedom Convoy” protest that has taken place in Ottawa since Jan. 29.
For the two arrests related to separate incidents, Ottawa Police revealed the names of the individuals charged and the type of infractions but released few other details in its press release.
Matthew Dorken, a 29-year-old man from Ottawa, was arrested for mischief under $5,000. Police said the arrest was not made on the day of the infraction, Jan. 29, to avoid a larger confrontation.
Andre J Lacasse, a 37-year-old man also from Ottawa, was charged on Jan. 30 with carrying a weapon to a meeting.
It is unknown what the mischief involved and what type of weapon was carried, nor if the individuals were known to police.
The Epoch Times reached out to Ottawa Police to obtain further details but were referred back to the press release.
Ottawa Police also said in its release that it currently has 13 ongoing investigations in relation to the protests.
Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly provided an update on Jan. 31 of his service’s work during the protests and said some of the investigations relate to bribery, threats to assault, and dangerous operation of vehicles.
Huge crowds gather on Parliament Hill during the trucker convoy protest against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions, in Ottawa on Jan. 29, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times)
Sloly also praised the work of his service and partners agencies providing support, saying there’s “been an incredible group of individuals who kept this city safe during a situation that could have become riotous, it could have led to significant and severe injuries, and it could have led to the loss of lives.”
“None of that has occurred over the last four days. Let me repeat. No injuries, no deaths, no riots in the last four days in the nation’s capital, even though we have a global cause, national protest,” said Sloly.
The Epoch Times reporters, photographers, and videographers on-site at various times of the protest have not seen any situation that could have become riotous.
Sloly also said that reports of denial of service were not true.
“We have verification from ambulance services, fire services and police services that while they were delays in responses and, in some instances, gaps in services delivery, nobody was directly affected regarding ambulatory service requirements or emergency services requirements.”
The protests in Ottawa started as a cross-country convoy to demand the end of restrictive pandemic measures such as vaccine mandates and passports. The organizers have said they would not leave the city until mandates are lifted.
While numbers have dwindled in recent days after tens of thousands protested over the past weekend, some social media posts say that more protesters will be converging in the nation’s capital this weekend.
A pro-freedom demonstration was initially set to take place in Montreal on Feb. 5, but a post on Facebook now directs would-be participants to gather in Ottawa at noon instead.