A court date has been set for a Calgary pastor accused of violating public health orders to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Calgary police released Artur Pawlowski from custody yesterday evening.
He was arrested Saturday and charged for organizing an illegal in-person gathering, and promoting and attending an illegal gathering.
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COVID-19: Calgary police arrest 2 church service organizers for violating new court order
The 48-year-old pastor’s arrest followed a court order that allowed Alberta Health Services and police to take legal action against organizers of advertised illegal gatherings breaching COVID-19 public health orders.
The agency says there is an urgent need to minimize spread to protect all Albertans as COVID-19 cases increase in the province.
Pawlowski is to appear in court on May 17.
Rallies and protests against lockdowns, masks and other COVID-19 regulations have been occurring regularly in Alberta.
Also Saturday, police ticketed protesters leaving a rally against public health restrictions outside a central Alberta cafe after the establishment was closed by health officials earlier in the week.
Hundreds of people also gathered the weekend before near Bowden, also in central Alberta, for a pre-advertised maskless “No More Lockdowns”’ protest rodeo.