A St. Thomas, Ont., man, accused of pelting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with gravel during a campaign stop in London last year, was among those taken into custody by police in Ottawa Thursday near the scene of the so-called “freedom convoy” protests.
Video posted to Twitter by a journalist with Montreal-based Noovo Info appears to show a handcuffed Shane Marshall, 25, being led to an SUV by a number of police officers near Parliament Hill, where protesters have been camped out for weeks.
Autre arrestation ciblée à Ottawa.#noovoinfo #ottawa pic.twitter.com/jo9OCgINSU
— Étienne Fortin-Gauthier (@EtienneFG) February 17, 2022
“Shane what did they say to you?” someone can be heard asking.
“They said I’m under arrest.”
Several members in a pro-convoy Telegram channel identified the man in the video as being Marshall.
It’s not clear if Marshall was charged, will be charged, or whether he remains in custody. An inquiry to Ottawa police’s media relations department was not immediately returned.
A staff member with the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa told Global News that there was nothing on file for a Shane Marshall as of late Friday morning, and mo Shane Marshalls were listed on the day’s court docket.
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Ottawa police push to clear convoy blockades now underway
Marshall is set to appear in court in March for a charge of assault with a weapon that was laid in September after Justin Trudeau was hit by gravel as he boarded his election campaign bus following a campaign stop at an east London brewery.
The 25-year-old was later booted by the People’s Party of Canada as president of their Elgin-Middlesex-London riding association after news of the charge was made public.
Gravel is thrown, top right, at Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, left, as the RCMP security detail provide protection, while protesters shout at a local microbrewery during the Canadian federal election campaign in London Ont., on Monday, September 6, 2021.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
London lawyer Phil Millar, who is representing Marshall in the gravel-throwing incident, said he was not aware that Marshall had traveled to Ottawa and had been arrested when reached by Global News late Friday morning.
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‘Freedom convoy’ organizers Lich, Barber to appear in Ottawa court Friday
Marshall was just one of many people taken into custody Thursday by police in Ottawa in relation to the ongoing protests, which have occupied the city’s downtown core for weeks. Also arrested were key organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber.
Barber, 46, has been charged with counselling to commit mischief, counselling to disobey a court order and counselling to obstruct police.
Lich, 49, has been charged with counselling to commit mischief.
Both were scheduled to appear in court Friday.
Police began mobilizing in Ottawa Friday morning and making arrests after days of issuing warnings to demonstrators that they would be charged if they chose not to leave the blockades of their own accord.
Police have established a perimeter with about 100 checkpoints covering Ottawa’s downtown to keep out anyone intent on joining the protest this weekend.
— with files from The Canadian Press