Three Quinte area residents are among those charges in relation to the McKenzie Meadows residential development site in Caledonia.
For weeks this summer, a group of demonstrators, who call themselves “land defenders”, have been occupying a residential development called McKenzie Meadows. They claim it is Indigenous land.
It is near Highway 6 at Caledonia. There have been court orders calling for an end to the demonstrations, and there have also been tense moments and standoffs with police.
The OPP have charged 22 people in total, including three local residents.
Thirty-five-year-old Nathan Strongitharm of Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory is facing charges of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, mischief and disobey court order. Additionally, Strongitharm was charged earlier this year in relation to the rail blockades in Tyendinaga Township.
Twenty-eight-year-old Joshua Edgar of Napanee is charged with mischief and disobey court order.
Nineteen-year-old Koko Newell of Bancroft has been charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, mischief and disobey court order.
Other charges could still be laid in the investigation.
BELOW IS THE MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
(HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON) – Since August 5, 2020 to date, members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged a total of 22 individuals in relation to the McKenzie Meadows residential development site and demonstrations in Caledonia, Haldimand County, Ontario.
All of the accused have been released and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga at a later date to answer to the charges.
On Tuesday September 15, 2020, Legal Counsel for an accused individual contacted OPP to advise them that their client would be making arrangements to turn themselves into police.
The individual was co-operative and met with police to turn themselves in where OPP formally charged and released the accused.
OPP has charged 43-year-old Starla MYERS of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation with:
- Mischief (two counts)
- Disobeying Order of Court
- The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga at a later date to answer to the charges.
- Nine individuals were arrested on August 5, 2020 when OPP were required to assist with enforcement of a Court Order at the McKenzie Meadows development site.
- Subsequently, the OPP had identified other individuals who attended the McKenzie Meadows site.
- OPP were able to obtain phone numbers for some of the identified individuals who were then contacted and given the opportunity to turn themselves in at the Haldimand County OPP Detachment in Cayuga.
- Once at the detachment, the individuals were provided with paperwork that included a court date and they were released shortly thereafter.
- Giving the accused persons the opportunity to turn themselves in was helpful in de-escalating a potential confrontational situation. All of the individuals who attended the detachment were co-operative with police.
- Individuals that have been charged are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cayuga at a later date.
- On August 5, 2020, OPP charged:
- Alicia ANDERSON, 23-years-old of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation with Obstruct Peace Officer.
- Kurt GIBSON, 24-years-old of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation with Mischief, Disobey Order of Court, Assault Peace Officer and Resist Peace Officer.
- Elyse MAYO, 30-years-old of Barrie, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- Laurel MACGREGOR, 21-years-old of Ancaster, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- Koko NEWELL, 19-years-old of Bancroft, Ontario with Mischief, Disobey Order of Court, Assault Peace Officer and Resist Peace Officer.
- Kaitlyn SMITH, 25-years-old of Scarborough, Ontario with Mischief, Disobey Order of Court and Obstruct Peace Officer.
- Nathan STRONGITHARM, 35-years-old of Tyendinaga First Nation with Mischief, Disobey Order of Court and Assault Peace Officer with a Weapon.
- Skylar WILLIAMS, 37-years-old of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation with Mischief (two counts) and Disobey Order of Court.
- Todd WILLIAMS, 48-years-old of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation with Mischief, Disobey Order of Court and Obstruct Peace Officer.
- On August 24, 2020, OPP charged Patricia MILLS, 36-years-old of Hamilton, Ontario with Mischief, Intimidation and Fail to Comply with a Release Order.
- On September 2, 2020, OPP charged:
- Karl DOCKSTADER, 40-years-old of Niagara Falls, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- Kaitlyn SMITH, 25-years-old of Scarborough, Ontario with Mischief, Disobey Order of Court and Fail to Comply with a Release Order.
- Audra TAILLEFER, 53-years-old of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation with Mischief (two counts), Intimidation and Enter on Land on which a Line Work is Situated under the Railway Safety Act.
- On September 3, 2020, OPP charged:
- Hailey BUTLER-HENDERSON, 27-years-old of Barrie, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- Joshua EDGAR, 28-years-old of Greater Napanee, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- Summer MARACLE-MUIR, 29-years-old of Barrie, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- Courtney SKYE, 33-years-old of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- On September 5, 2020, OPP charged:
- Andrew GILLETTE, 34-years-old of Guelph, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- Leslie SHAPIRO – De MARTIGNY, 31-years-old of Hamilton, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- On September 7, 2020, OPP charged:
- Barry CONWAY, 35-years-old of Hamilton, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court and Fail to Comply with a Release Order.
- Jeremy LARIVEE, 36-years-old of London, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- On September 9, 2020, OPP charged:
- Mohammed SYED, 35-years-old of St. Catharines, Ontario with Mischief and Disobey Order of Court.
- Two court injunctions are currently in effect and prohibit anyone from being on the McKenzie Meadows property site located at 1535 McKenzie Road (also known as 1492 Land Back Lane) in Caledonia and also prohibit anyone from establishing road blockades in Haldimand County.
- Dependent upon an individual’s actions, the following charges may be applicable to anyone:
- Disobeying Order of Court (court injunction)
- Obstruct Peace Officer: Everyone who resists or wilfully obstructs a peace officer in the execution of his/her duty
- Causing Disturbance: Impeding another person
- Mischief: Interfere with any person in the lawful use or enjoyment of property
- Intimidation: Block or obstruct a highway
These offences are punishable upon conviction by fine and/or imprisonment.
Additionally, the Highway Traffic Act authorizes the towing and impounding of vehicles under these circumstances.
Following its court-endorsed Framework for Police Preparedness for Indigenous Critical Incidents, throughout the incident, the OPP Provincial Liaison Team was engaged in significant collaborative and respectful dialogue aimed at bringing about a peaceful resolution, while ensuring everyone’s safety and preserving their respective rights guaranteed by Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The OPP will act to preserve the peace, maintain public safety, investigate unlawful activity and enforce the law where appropriate, in accordance with police duties and responsibilities as set out in legislation and the common law. The OPP appreciates everyone’s cooperation and patience during these occurrences.
