(Ottawa) A police officer who had been a liaison between Ottawa police and the “freedom convoy” demonstrators in the winter of 2022 testified Thursday at the trial of two organizers that Chris Barber had confided to her from the first days that things were getting “out of control” and dangerous.
Officer Nicole Bach said that as early as February 2, 2022, about three days after protesters arrived in downtown Ottawa, Mr. Barber told her that the convoy had “lost sight” of its primary objective.
Mme Bach also argued that Mr. Barber had pointed out from the start that the protesters lacked food and fuel for their vehicles.
The officer is one of three police liaison officers expected to take the stand in the criminal trial of Chris Barber and Tamara Lich.
The two co-accused face charges including misdeeds for bringing thousands of large trucks to Ottawa to protest against health measures linked to COVID-19 – and against Justin Trudeau’s liberal government in general.
Officer Bach testified Thursday about her interactions with Mr. Barber and other convoy participants during the three weeks they were stationed in the capital’s downtown area. She told the court that Mr Barber told her as early as 1er February that “the guys were lacking fuel and food” and that “we will have to resolve these problems because they are not going to disappear”.
Mme Bach also recalled that Mr. Barber had informed her that the convoy participants were staying in two downtown Ottawa hotels, the Swiss Hotel and the ARC Hotel, which he called the “war rooms” (“war rooms”). war rooms”).
Mme Bach testified that while she was coordinating with Mr. Barber at the start of the protest, she observed a “total standoff” in downtown Ottawa. She said the protesters were agitated and did not cooperate much with police.
Later, on February 9, Mr. Barber’s tone had changed, she added, when he warned her that the convoy would only leave Ottawa if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recognized his group and lifted related health restrictions. to the pandemic.
She also claimed that Mr. Barber had warned her that it would be a “serious mistake” to launch a forced police operation, complete with riot gear.
Throughout his testimony, Mr.me Bach turned to notes of conversations she had with other Ottawa police liaison officers to refresh her memory.
The Crown is trying to show the court that Mme Lich and Mr. Barber exerted influence over the crowds and truck drivers who blocked streets in downtown Ottawa for three weeks.
On Wednesday, police officer Isabelle Cyr, another liaison officer, told the court that the group of Mr. Barber and Mme Lich was just another convoy in Ottawa.