Ottawa Police Charge MPP Randy Hillier With So Many Offences After Freedom Convoy Protest
Ottawa police have laid Ontario MPP Randy Hillier with several charges following the freedom convoy protests.
Hillier has not been shy about his views toward COVID-19 restrictions and has previously faced charges related to a mask-burning event, promoted large Christmas gatherings during COVID-19 and publicly expressed his anti-lockdown views.
The independent MPP for Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston has held his position since 2018, and according to an Ottawa Police Service press release, the 64-year-old is facing nine charges related to the "illegal protests" in February.
Police say they received "multiple complaints about social media posts and other activities of an individual," which the police task force looked into.
"An investigation was commenced and information gathered by a police task force initiated to investigate criminal behaviour during the protest," Ottawa police added.
According to CTV News, Hillier's Twitter account was suspended in early Mach 2022 for violating the app's COVID-19 misinformation policy.
Hillier has been charged with two counts of mischief/obstructing property exceeding $5000, three counts of counselling an uncommitted indictable offence, one count of obstructing/resisting a person aiding a public/peace officer, two counts of obstructing/resisting a public officer and one count of assaulting a public/peace officer.
The freedom convoy protest occupied Ottawa for weeks and cost the city around $36.3 million in police response, bylaw and more. Protests also took place in other cities across Canada and at the country's borders.
Hillier is expected to appear in court on Monday, according to police.
Narcity reached out to Hillier for comment, but he did not respond in time for publication.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
