Van Huigenbos, 32, who was a protest organizer, as well as Alex Van Herk, 53, and George Janzen, 43, each face mischief over $5,000. In a written statement, the RCMP called the three men “key participants in the Coutts border blockade,” which took place between Jan. 29 and Feb. 15. The three will go on trial on October 4. Van Huigenbos’ lawyer, Yoav Niv, says he has yet to receive disclosures that would shed light on why the Mounties dismissed the charge as disorderly conduct. Neave went on to say that his client is “presumed innocent.” Initially, the RCMP charged 14 people, including four men who face the most serious offences, conspiracy to kill RCMP officers. Chris Carbert, Chris Lysak, Anthony Olienick and Jerry Morin will go on trial next June. Two others – Luke Burke, 62, and Johnson Law, 39 – were charged with less serious offenses and have since seen their charges dropped. Prosecutor Steven Johnston declined to explain why the charges were dropped.
Van Huigenbos reprimanded by city council
In March, Van Huigenbos was reprimanded for what Fort Macleod Mayor Brent Feyter described as “unacceptable behavior.” In a letter posted on the city’s website, Fetter expressed “serious concerns” about Van Hooygenbos’ role in organizing the blockade. “To be clear, the council respects the rights of peaceful protest, but this does not extend to staging an illegal highway blockade at the border crossing that has disrupted international travel and trade for more than two weeks and disrupted our municipal neighbor, the Village of Coutts. ” wrote the mayor. Van Huigenbos has a duty to act in good faith “and in the best interests of Fort Macleod at all times,” the letter states, adding that subsequent instances of “unacceptable conduct may result in further sanctions.” When reached for comment Friday, Fetter issued a brief statement, explaining that under Alberta’s Municipal Government Act, Van Hooygenbos is allowed to continue serving. “If convicted, the conviction will be reviewed to determine whether Council Member Marco may continue to serve,” the mayor wrote. RCMP have laid new charges against three men in connection with the Coutts border blockade earlier this year. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press) Most of the charges were laid following raids on February 14 of trailers set up on Joanne Person’s property near the protest site. The person also faces charges related to the foreclosure. During the execution of the search warrants, police seized more than a dozen firearms, as well as ammunition and body armor. Recently unsealed court documents show the RCMP conducted an undercover operation and a rarely used “imminent harm” wiretapping to justify executing a search warrant and laying charges. RCMP believed the men charged with conspiracy to kill police officers were stockpiling weapons to arm themselves and others in preparation for a standoff with police. When interviewed the day after the raids, Van Huigenbos told CBC News that the protest was “infiltrated by an extreme element” and said the remaining protesters decided “to leave Coutts peacefully and go back to [their] families.”
