Ottawa officer ‘choked’, multiple arrests at the National War Memorial, police say
Posted June 30, 2022 9:03 pm.
Last Updated June 30, 2022 9:08 pm.
Police have arrested four people in downtown Ottawa after a Canadian soldier charged for speaking out against COVID-19 vaccine requirements led a procession into the city.
Not long after, police say they arrested four people over incidents including assaulting police officers.
According to a tweet by Ottawa Police, an “investigation finds that an interaction with officers became confrontational and 1 officer was choked.”
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James Topp was charged in February with two counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline for comments made while wearing his uniform.
He has since been leading a four-month march to the capital from Vancouver.
Topp’s march has been supported by many of the same figures involved in the so-called “Freedom Convoy” that snarled downtown Ottawa for weeks until police used force to end what they and the government described as an illegal occupation.
We are reviewing video and investigating the incident at the National War Memorial this evening.
The initial investigation finds that an interaction with officers became confrontational and 1 officer was choked. Other officers immediately responded, 4 people were arrested— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) July 1, 2022
A crowd of about 1,200 people cheered and chanted “Freedom!” as he arrived this evening at the National War Memorial, where he knelt, weeping, by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before delivering a speech to the crowd.
Ottawa police say will be reviewing video and conducting a further review.
