Charges laid against protesters arrested at southern Alberta border crossing

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As the entire group was in COVID-19 isolation in custody at the time of their court appearances, lawyers spoke on their behalf.

Arrested

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Chris Carbert, Christpher Lysak, Anthony Olienick and Jerry Morin were all charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and mischief over $5,000.

Lysak faces an additional charge of uttering threats while nine others face a variety of weapons and mischief charges.

All remain in custody.

The other nine suspects were released on conditions including no contact with with other accused, not attending the site of the protest or coming within 200 metres of other public protests.

Meanwhile, the protest at the Coutts border crossing is over, but its impact will have lasting effects.

The border opened late Tuesday night in both directions again after more than two weeks of disruptions.

Protesters originally blocked the highway near Coutts and gathered near the town of Milk River to protest vaccine mandates and other COVID protocols at the end of January.

Protest supporter Brant Hansen says it was always meant to be a peaceful protest.

“We came in peaceful and we want to stay peaceful. And when that happened [discovery of weapons], that kind of stuff happens, and the accusations possibly towards us now revolving around us. That’s not any intention of what was supposed to happen.”

Despite the latest developments, Hansen stands behind the protests, saying they needed to take place, because not enough was happening to ease mandates.

“Nothing was happening, and in all honesty there had to be a loud noise, and it’s not what we wanted to do. It’s not. Essentially, we didn’t want to shut down our own personal border and cause harm, or, you know, financial stress to businesses, and to families. That’s what’s been happening to all of Canada for two and a half years.”

The blockade ended just one day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act aimed at ending the protests.

However, Brant says even though the blockade has ended, they plan to keep fighting.

“The fight for freedom’s not over. Where that takes us, what location, or in what shape or form, I don’t know.”

If the fight continues, the Mayor of Coutts, Jim Willett, says everyone will be better prepared.

“This took everybody by surprise. If it happens again, it shouldn’t take anybody by surprise. There will have to be preparations or defenses, or whatever you will, put in place to keep it from happening again.”

Willett says he is relieved that the protest is over, but he says it has divided his village, and it will have lasting effects on its residents.

“This is one of those things that polarizes people. You’re either on the side of the protesters, or you’re against them. And I don’t know why society has gotten to that point where you can’t have a middle ground and try and understand what’s going on. You either have to be for them or against them. So, that is felt in the village. So, people who are friends, find themselves on opposite sides of that imaginary line, and it’s caused tension. It pulls at the fabric of the community. We’re small enough to almost be a family, and now it’s a family feud.”

— with files from David Opinko and LethbridgeNewsNOW Staff