Charges dropped against accused implicated in border blockade

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on January 17, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Charges of mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose against a southern Alberta woman implicated in the Coutts border protest and blockade, have been withdrawn.

Joanne Person was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Monday in Lethbridge provincial court, but the charges were instead withdrawn by the Crown. Person also agreed to the forfeiture of a firearm police seized from her Coutts residence.

The Crown did not provide any reasons for withdrawing the charges.

Person, who was going to represent herself during Monday’s hearing, pleaded not guilty to the charges last August and elected to be tried by a Court of King’s Bench judge and a jury, with a preliminary hearing. A preliminary hearing is typically held to determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a trial.

RCMP arrested Person during the blockade of trucks and vehicles at the Coutts border last January and February, after police discovered a cache of firearms and ammunition in trailers near the protest site. Eight other individuals were also charged with mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and released on bail, while another four men were charged with conspiracy to commit murder. They have been denied bail.

During the court hearing in August, Person said she rejected a resolution offer by the Crown and said she wanted the charges dropped.

“I respectively declined to accept the offer made by your office, and solemnly swear I am innocent,” Person read from a prepared statement. “I request that all charges be dropped, and all wiretaps and release conditions be immediately removed.”

She also asked that the Lethbridge ambulance service stop harassing her for fees she was charged after EMS was called to the jail for her by police, and that the Lethbridge Police Service pay the fees.

“I request that no further harassment of police be put upon me. I request that I be released from reporting to a parole officer, and that all conditions imposed on me because of these charges by the Crown be removed. I request that these matters be dealt with immediately upon receipt of this letter.”

Person was also prepared to read aloud her affidavit outlining why she believes she’s not guilty and shouldn’t be prosecuted, but Crown Prosecutor Steven Johnston pointed out that’s a matter for a trial judge to determine.

Person is still scheduled for trial next month on one charge of dangerous driving. The charge stems from an incident Feb. 1 when a pickup truck drove through the blockade and headed toward oncoming traffic before becoming involved in a head-on collision.

Calgary lawyer Kelsey Sitar represents Person on the dangerous driving charge.

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