One of three police liaison offers scheduled to testify is expected to give her testimony today at the criminal trial for "Freedom Convoy" organizer Chris Barber. A protesting truck driver, centre, discusses with police liaison how to leave the area during a demonstration, part of a convoy-style protest participants are calling "Rolling Thunder", in Ottawa, Friday, April 29, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
OTTAWA – An officer who served as an intermediary with “Freedom Convoy” organizers says Chris Barber told her early on in last year’s protest that he felt things were getting “out of control” and unsafe.
Const. Nicole Bach says Barber expressed that the convoy had “lost sight” of what it was originally intended for about three days after demonstrators converged on downtown Ottawa.
Bach also says that Barber relayed in the early stages of the protests that demonstrators were running low on food and fuel for their vehicles.
Bach is one of three police liaison offers scheduled to testify in Barber’s criminal trial.
Barber and Tamara Lich are facing charges for their role in bringing thousands of big-rig trucks to Ottawa in protest against COVID-19 public-health measures and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government.
The Crown’s case depends on proving that Lich and Barber exerted influence over the crowds and truck drivers that blocked off major streets downtown.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2023.
