Update #40 on police enforcement of injunction order in Fairy Creek Watershed

Lake Cowichan, B.C.

2021-07-03 21:41 PDT

Police enforcement continued today, on July 3, 2021, with a focus on roving patrols and wellness checks within the injunction area.

There were no arrests related to activities today. However, 2 individuals who were read the injunction on July 2nd, but remained in locking devices they could remove themselves from, were ultimately arrested. After the dayshift RCMP members were relieved by evening shift members, both protesters eventually self-released from the devices. One was arrested during the late evening of July 2nd and the other early morning of July 3rd. Both were arrested without incident and transported to Port Renfrew where they were released on documentation.

We wish to remind those in the injunction boundary that BC Wildfire Service previously announced that campfires, as well as Categories 2 and 3 open fires are prohibited province-wide due to extreme high temperatures.

Police have begun facilitating access for officials to conduct checks for forest fires in the area, and to enforce these bans as forewarned in previous news releases. The RCMP remain committed to ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

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Since enforcement began, the RCMP have arrested 351 individuals; at least 22 of whom were previously arrested. Of the 351 total arrested, 271 were for breaching the injunction (civil contempt of court), 70 were for obstruction, 5 were for mischief, 2 were for breaching their release conditions, 2 for assaulting a police officer, and 1 for counselling to resist arrest.

All news releases on the Fairy Creek Watershed police enforcement issued to date can be found on the Lake Cowichan RCMP Detachment website.

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