It appears the OPP may have finally taken some action against native protestors in Caledonia. Reports from the scene of a long standoff at a housing subdivision indicate cops moved into the disputed land on Wednesday afternoon and took 18 people into custody. All those arrested are said to be natives.
There's no word on what prompted the police action or if any charges have been laid. But there doesn't appear to have been the kind of violence many fear a police move might incite. And the OPP hopes to keep it that way. "We're just asking everybody to be respectful to each other while this is unfolding and we'll have a peaceful resolution at the end of the stay," offers Sgt. Dave Rektor.
The natives have been involved in a land dispute in the Hamilton-area town since February 2006. Tempers have flared constantly between residents and those occupying the tract since then. The natives insist the land is theirs and are demanding the government return it to them. Residents counter the government is too afraid to do anything and have handcuffed police, allowing the natives to get away with serious crimes.
This latest incident follows a violent confrontation that took place last week between a home builder and those on the land. Fifty-two-year-old Sam Gualtieri was discovered unconscious and bloody after he went to check out a home under construction. He suffered serious skull injuries and there are allegations he was beaten during a confrontation with the protestors.
But Rektor refuses to say if the arrests are related to that attack, although they did take place in the same area. "The investigation into the assault on the contractor is still under way," he explains. "We're working with the Criminal Investigations Unit to find the persons responsible for that and we're very hopeful that we'll be able to do so."