Hundreds of people filled a church in Ottawa’s Vanier neighborhood for a “church bike service,” the latest planned event of the Rolling Thunder Ottawa biker event this weekend.
Police officers kept the worshipers and supporters of the Rolling Thunder event in front of the church of motorcyclists in the capital on Carillon Street on Sunday morning. The service came just hours after Ottawa police launched an investigation into “hate-motivated mischief” for graffiti spray-painted on church walls.
“We are excited to have you join us today,” Pastor Rob McKee told worshipers at the start of the service.
McKee said the church was full for Sunday service, with a crowded crowd outside watching a live broadcast. The group performed in front of the audience before and after the one-hour service.
The church’s motorcycle service was the last event on the weekend’s schedule, with the Rolling Thunder Ottawa website saying Sunday: “See you next time!”
Ten people were arrested during a three-day event in downtown Ottawa, including seven on Friday night when protesters blocked the intersection of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive.
There are no reports of injuries or property damage in the city center.
Many participants said they planned to leave the city after the church service.
Interim Chief Steve Bell said police were continuing to gather information and intelligence on plans for the weekend.
“What I can tell you is that our operation is not over, we will continue to be in and around the area for the rest of the weekend,” Bell told CTV News Ottawa on Saturday night.
“Like last time, we will say that our operation will not be carried out until everyone leaves our area.
“Controlled access” points remain in place through the city center today, with employees located at many intersections around the exclusion zone. Traffic was allowed through the area, but parking and stopping rules remain in place.
“The main goal of our efforts will be to support and protect the CN cycle for CHEO,” a police statement said Saturday night.
Police believe the increased police presence in downtown Ottawa this weekend has stopped many people from joining the event.
“Several convoys and groups were spotted outside the city. “Our intelligence shows that many convoys have chosen not to come to Ottawa based on the operational position of the police,” police said.
Hundreds of people gathered at the National War Memorial for Saturday morning before more than 400 motorcycles traveled from the eastern part of Ottawa to the city center. There was also an afternoon rally on Parliament Hill and a march through Centertown.
“From what we hear from our community, they are pleased with our police response,” Bell said.
“They would have preferred it not to happen, but they understand that people will come to our city and expect their police service to actually run it, and I believe we did a pretty good job of that over the weekend.
Ten people have been arrested
Ten people were arrested during the Rolling Thunder Ottawa event.
A woman was arrested for assaulting police on Elgin Street on Saturday afternoon, police said. A man has been arrested for violating bail conditions stemming from the February occupation of the city center.
A male driver was also arrested after he raced an OPP motorcycle to a downtown checkpoint on Saturday, police said.
“The man, who was in conditions resulting from the occupation in February, faces several charges, including violating release conditions, dangerous driving, refusing to provide a sample, assaulting a peacekeeper and assault with a weapon,” the statement said. police statement. Saturday night.
Dozens of vehicles towed
Ottawa’s statutes and regulatory services say 761 tickets have been issued since Friday morning for violating no-parking / no-stop zones in the exclusion zone.
Thirty-nine vehicles were towed this weekend in the area of Waller Street to Bay Street and Wellington Street to Laurier Avenue.
Ten more slips have been issued for noise violations, smoking, public urination, highway congestion and abuse of access permits, the bylaw said.
Ottawa will send the police bill to the federal government
The cost of police for the Freedom Convoy in Ottawa in January and February was $ 36 million.
Mayor Jim Watson says the final bill for this protest will not be so high, but Ottawa taxpayers still do not have to pay it.
“So we’re looking for millions, not hundreds of thousands, but millions,” Watson said Saturday night.
“I spoke with the Federal Minister of Public Safety only a few days ago to inform him that we will again rely on the federal government to provide funding. Ottawa’s taxpayers should not fund this kind of backyard event.
“I keep telling people that there are two different Ottawa – there is an official Ottawa, Parliament Hill, but there is an Ottawa that is made up of communities.”
CN cycle for CHEO
Organizers say the CN Cycle for CHEO will continue today.
“The Ottawa Police Department will continue to monitor the situation and work with the organizers of the CN Cycle for CHEO to ensure that registration for the CN Cycle for CHEO and the event itself is safe,” a statement from the Ottawa City said.
The event is held at the Canadian Military Museum with routes around the city.
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