Protester charged

January 26, 2007
Belleville intelligencer

A third Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory man is facing criminal charges in connection with a Nov. 15 demonstration regarding a disputed land claim in Deseronto.

A warrant was issued for a 44-year-old suspect following an investigation into a confrontation between members of the Canadian military who coincidentally pulled up to the site of the native protest on Highway 2 while en route to a training exercise elsewhere.

Thursday, a suspect turned himself in at the Tyendinaga Mohawk police station on York Road.

Charged with two counts of uttering death threats and one count of mischief is Jerome Barnhart.

In a statement issued Thursday, OPP Chief Superintendent Larry Beechey said, "The OPP will continue to work to provide a safe community, a secure Ontario, but although the OPP respects lawful protest it will not tolerate criminal activity."

Barnhart is scheduled to appear for a bail hearing today in Napanee. Earlier this month, two other men who were involved in the protest were arrested on charges including uttering death threats and assault.