Media outlets press court for Coutts warrant details

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on April 20, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Five national media outlets waiting to ask a judge for information used by RCMP to obtain search warrants in relation to the Coutts border protest and blockade will have to wait a little longer.
The media - CBC, CTV News, Global News, Postmedia and The Globe and Mail – were, along with the Crown, scheduled Tuesday in Lethbridge provincial court to set a date for a judge to hear the news medias’ application. The matter had to be adjourned without that date, however, after the judge was told there are several lawyers who may be interested in attending, but were previously unaware of the application and Tuesday’s hearing.
The search warrant information the media outlets are seeking is specifically in relation to four individuals who were arrested during the trucker protest in January and February and who remain in remand custody. Anthony Olienick, 39, Jerry Mitchell Morin, 40, Chris Carbert, 44, and Christopher Lysak, 48, are each charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Lawyer Matthew Woodley, who represents the news media, explained legal counsel representing the four individuals are aware of the application, but on April 12 he learned there are additional accused who are facing other charges but whose arrests are connected to the search warrants, as well. Those lawyers were subsequently informed of the application and advised of Tuesday’s hearing. Woodley said each of the lawyers will be further canvassed to see if they want to participate as respondents and appear in court in relation to the motion.
The warrants were issued in relation to weapons and ammunition that were seized by police, and the media outlets are applying to have the information used to obtain those warrants unsealed. The matter is scheduled to return to court May 2 to speak to setting a date for the application.
Police previously reported that a small organized group within the protest was willing to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade. During the early-morning raid Feb. 14, police uncovered 13 long guns, as well as handguns, a machete, a large quantity of ammunition and body armour. Two additional weapons were seized later in the day.
In addition to the four men charged with conspiracy to commit murder, nine other individuals, Ursula Allred, 22, Johnson Chichow Law, 39, Justin Martin, 22, Eastin Stewart Oler, 22, Joanne Person, 62, Janx Zaremba, 18, Luke Berk, 62, Jaclyne Martin, 39, and Evan Colenutt, 23, are charged with mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. They have all been released on bail.
Lysak, Olienick, Morin and Carbert are also charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and mischief to property, and Lysak faces an additional charge of uttering threats.
All 13 accused are scheduled to return to court Monday.

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