Demonstration of truckers: seized goods difficult to recover

The City turned over 41 items to the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) after its clean-up operation, which followed the nearly three-week occupation of downtown.

Among these objects were found generators, barbecues and heaters that were used to feed and warm the demonstrators.

The objects in the possession of OPSOttawa Police Service are located in one of its facilities, southeast of the city. Six items were returned to their owners, but 35 are still there, the Service said.

As with all property, owners must provide proof of ownership to claim theirs. Receipts, serial numbers, and item photos are acceptable evidenceindicates the OPSOttawa Police Service in a written statement.

But according to some protesters, many of the goods recovered were newly purchased or recently donated to them.

David Paisleyone of the informal organizers of the trucking convoy, was unable to recover a batch of banners with a total value of approximately $1,000.

Mr Paisley was arrested at the end of the protest, but no charges were brought against him. When he tried to find his possessions, he was asked for the name of the arresting officer and a case number — information he was never given, he says.

His banners have monetary and sentimental value for him, laments David Paisley. From what we know, the employees threw everything in a trailer and they left with the items as quickly as possible, he comments. And there doesn’t appear to be a system in place to track where the items have been stored, he adds.

Their number 1 priority was to act fast, so everything was rushedhe believes.

Another protester, Ben Froese, was stationed almost directly in front of parliament for much of the protest. Among other things, he operated a crane to which was attached a Canadian flag.

According to him, the actions of the police caused damage worth $2,500 to his vehicle during their intervention to put an end to the demonstration. And his flag is nowhere to be found.

I still don’t know if it serves as evidence for an investigation. What happened to my flag remains a big question mark. What did they do with it? Did they throw it in the trash? I do not knowhe said.

No objects are being held as evidence, says OPS

As to where the flags and other objects that were seized are, it is difficult to get a clear answer.

the OPSOttawa Police Service said that he had not received a tent, table or chair from the City. Municipal employees as well as employees of private companies responsible for cleaning the streets could have thrown it away.

the OPSOttawa Police Service claims that none of the objects in his possession serve as evidence, and that no order from a judge is expected to return them.

If they really had 41 goods in their hands, it would mean that a significant number of objects were thrown away, or that there is a contractor somewhere who keeps a large quantitybelieves David Paisley.

Karl Duvall shares his skepticism. Having helped organize the camp on the way Coventryhe estimates that tens, if not hundreds of thousands of objects were seized, including bales of hay and liters of gasoline.

With other organizers, Karl Duvall is currently drawing up an inventory of lost objects, with the hope of finding them. A lot of things shouldn’t have been entered, he comments. He adds that teams of demonstrators wanted to clean up during the occupation, but that the police did not tolerate it.

In a statement, the police say they are working actively to identify the owners of certain objects.

For their part, organizers plan to rummage through municipal dumps in the hope of finding chairs, tables and extension cords, among other things.

According to David Paisleyit is imperative that a fair system be put in place for the items to be returned to their owners, while most of the protesters have not been charged or convicted of any crimes. Unless there’s a reason all of these items are still in the hands of the police, it seems inappropriatehe commented.

With information from David Fraser, CBC