Anti-COVID mandate protester found not guilty of criminal charges

WARNING: This storycontains offensive and racist language.

A Kelownamancharged with causing a disturbance after yelling at a security guard at a vaccine clinic has been found not guilty by a B.C. judge.

Bruce Orydzuk, 60, was captured on video repeatedly yelling at the guard, who was wearing a turban. The guard had asked him to leave the property of a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in July 2021.

"The issue for this Court is not whether the conduct of Mr. Orydzuk was obnoxious or deplorable, but whether it was criminal," reads Judge Dave Ruse's court ruling, dated March 19.

"Although Mr. Orydzuk's behavior towards [the security guard] was insulting and highly offensive, it did not result in an interference with ordinary and customary use of the premises by the public."

WATCH | Man directsracist rant toward security guard:

Racist rant targets security guard outside a vaccine clinic in Kelowna

3 years ago

Duration 1:15

The RCMP are investigating an incident outside a vaccine clinic after video surfaced showing a Kelowna man directing a racist rant toward a security guard who was trying to keep protesters away.

Ruse said Orydzuk's behaviour did not prevent anyone from entering the clinic and did not affect its overall operations.

The July 2021 incident occurred during a protest of about 10 peopleoutside the Trinity Baptist Church on Springfield Road, where the vaccine clinic was being held.

The videowas taken by reporter Carli Berry with iNFOnews.

"You're disgusting. You're not a Canadian. Go back to India ... We don't want you here," Orydzuk yells during the exchange.

Orydzuk is part of a group of people in Kelowna who led protests against mask-wearing, vaccines and restrictions intended to protect people against COVID-19.