Firearms and Ammunition Seized by RCMP

Coutts Alta – The Canadian Border Services Agency closed the Coutts Alberta border station over the weekend. The Coutts crossing into Montana has been the target of protests in the past week.

The Alberta RCMP in a media release report that they recently became aware of a small organized group within the larger Coutts protest.

Information was received that this group had access to a cache of firearms with a large quantity of ammunition. The group was said to have a willingness to use force against the police if any attempts were made to disrupt the blockade.

This resulted in an immediate and complex investigation to determine the extent of the threat and criminal organization.

As a result of this investigation, the Alberta RCMP executed a search warrant during the early hours of February 14, on three trailers associated to this criminal organization.  This resulted in the arrest and detainment of 11 individuals.

As result of these search warrants, the following was seized:

• 13 long guns
• handguns
• multiple sets of body armour
• a machete
• a large quantity of ammunition
• high capacity magazines

An example of the militant mindset of a small segment of the protest, earlier in the evening, at approximately 8:00 pm MST, a large farm tractor and a semi truck, both involved in the blockade, attempted to ram a police vehicle.

The police officer was able to reposition and avoid the collision.  RCMP officers followed the suspects to a location where the protesters were gathered.

RCMP state, “The driver of the tractor was identified and we are actively working to locate him so he can be taken into custody. The Alberta RCMP have seized the farm tractor and semi truck involved in this incident.”

The Alberta RCMP wants to emphasize that our primary goal throughout this event has been and will continue to be the safety of the public, as well as our officers.

The Alberta RCMP will resume efforts to end the illegal blockade which has prevented access to the Coutts border.  We encourage all participants who are involved in this illegal action to leave immediately or relocate to the designated site for the legal protest.

Names of those charged:

Ursula Allred, 22, Magrath.

• Mischief to property over $5,000.
• Possession of a weapon.

Luke Berk, 62, Red Deer .

• Mischief to property over $5,000.
• Possession of a weapon.

Chris Carbert, 44, Lethbridge.

• Conspiracy to murder.
• Possession of a weapon.
• Mischief to property over $5,000.

Evan Colenutt, 23, Raymond.

• Mischief to property over $5,000.
• Possession of a weapon.

Johnson Chichow Law, 39, Calgary.

• Possession of a weapon.
• Mischief to property over $5,000.

Christopher Lysak, 48, Lethbridge.

• Conspiracy to murder.
• Possession of a weapon.
• Mischief to property over $5,000.
• Uttering threats.

Justin Martin, 22, Raymond.

• Possession of a weapon.
• Mischief to property over $5,000.

Stewart Eastin Oler, 22, Raymond.

• Possession of a weapon.
• Mischief to property over $5,000.

Anthony Olienick, 39, Claresholm.

• Conspiracy to murder.
• Possession of a weapon.
• Mischief to property over $5,000.

Joanne Person, 62, Coutts.

• Possession of a weapon.
• Mischief to property over $5,000.

Janx Zaremba, 18, Raymond.

• Possession of a weapon.
• Mischief to property over $5,000.

The Alberta RCMP will provide further updates as they become available.