450+ tickets issued since Saturday morning

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sunday, February 6^th, 2022      11:45am 

(Ottawa) – The Ottawa Police Service and its partners worked through the night to reduce the impacts of demonstrators in the downtown core, respond to calls for service, and improve neighbourhood safety.

Overnight, demonstrators exhibited extremely disruptive and unlawful behaviour, which presented risks to public safety and unacceptable distress for Ottawa residents. 

We continue to advise demonstrators not to enter Ottawa, and to go home.

As of 11:00Am EST, the Ottawa Police Service can report:

Enforcement and Charges Laid

• Police have responded to over 650 calls for service in relation to the demonstrations since they began.
• Bylaw and Police Services have issued more than 450 tickets since Saturday morning, including tickets for the following:
  • Excessive noise
  • Use of Fireworks
  • Failure to drive in marked lane
  • Red light violations
  • Driving through a No Truck Route
  • Seatbelt violation
  • Driving a motor vehicle on a sidewalk
  • Cellphone
  • Disobey sign
  • Improper muffler
  • Tint (too dark)
  • Obstructed license plate
  • Failure to produce documents
  • Stunt Driving (vehicle seized)
  • Suspended license
  • No Insurance
  • Several vehicles were seized and towed, including one stolen truck and an abandoned vehicle in a roadway.
  • Ottawa Police Service Negotiators supported efforts to limit noise and the blowing of horns from 9AM to 1PM EST today.

Perimeter and Traffic Control

• Overnight, there was a peak attendance of 250 people in the Wellington Corridor and a large crowd of 350 people at Rideau and Sussex.
• As of 9:00AM there were 100 demonstrators in the Wellington Corridor and 500 vehicles in the red zone. 
• Ottawa Police and our partners continue to close 417 exits in the downtown area sporadically.
• Kent St. remains blocked with traffic between Wellington and Somerset.
• Hundreds of concrete and heavy equipment barricades remain in place throughout Centretown, Lowertown, Byward Market, Sandy Hill and the Glebe.

Intelligence and Investigations

• 97 criminal offence investigations have been opened in relation to the demonstration.
• Intelligence and evidence gathering teams continue to collect financial, digital, vehicle registration, driver identification, insurance status, and other related evidence that will be used in criminal prosecutions.
• The Ottawa Police Service is actively working with Canadian, U.S. and international security agencies authorities to investigate email-based threats to public officials.
• The Hate-motivated crime hotline has received over 200 calls, and Detectives are ensuring every report is investigated.

Operations

• Public Order Units managed a large unlawful crowd at Rideau/Sussex at 12:30 AM.
• All available Ottawa Police Service officers remain on active duty, focusing on patrolling and addressing unlawful and threatening conduct in Centretown, Sandy Hill, Lowertown and the ByWard Market.

We encourage all residents who have witnessed or been the victim of unlawful behaviour to please contact the Ottawa Police at (613) 236-1222 ext 7300, or ext 5015 for hate related crimes. Reports may also be submitted online at www.ottawapolice.ca.

The Ottawa Police Service will continue to provide updates as they become available.

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CONTACT:

Media Relations Section                  

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext. 5366