Police vs. vehicles: RCMP lay more charges connected to Coutts protests

RCMP have laid charges against a man who is accused of speeding toward policeofficers at a checkstop connected to the border blockade at Coutts, Alta.

RCMP laid charges of assault with a weapon and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle against James Edward Sowery, 36, of Flagstaff County.

Sowery is the 14th person to be charged in connection with protests and blockades at and near the Coutts border crossing last month, including four men who are accused of conspiracy to murder RCMP officers.

• 4 Alberta border protesters charged with conspiring to murder RCMP officers

Sowery's offences stem from a checkstop set up by RCMP at Milk River on Feb.14.

Police say that around11 a.m., a semi-truck initially pulled to the side of the road.

"After a short period of time, the vehicle accelerated and drove at officers, who had to run out of the way to avoid getting hit," said the RCMP in its release.

Sowery has been released on conditions and will appear alongside the 13 otheraccused on March 28 in Lethbridge.

• Coutts arrests: new details on the men and women charged in border blockade

Joanne Person, 62, who lives in Coutts and already faced a weapons and mischief offence, has also been charged in connection witha confrontation between police and a vehicle.

On Feb. 1, officers were policing a checkstop when a large pickup, which had initially stopped, drove through the blockade, then headed southbound in the northbound lane.

A short time later, that vehicle caused a head-on crash.

Person has been charged with dangerous driving.

Ties to white supremacist group

All of the men charged with conspiracy to murder Chris Carbert, Christopher Lysak,Anthony Olienick and Jerry Morin remain in custody.

Lysak had a bail hearing earlier this monthbut a judge refused to release the accused.

Carbert and Lysak both have ties to a group with whitesupremacist beliefs.

The on-again, off-again blockadeof the busy border crossing by people opposed to COVID-19 health restrictions lasted more than two weeks.

The arrests followed an RCMP raid of trailers on Feb. 14, whenofficers seizedguns,body armour, alarge quantity of ammunition and high-capacity firearm magazines.