A Tyendinaga Territory man is in custody after threatening a police officer.
A press release, issued by Tyendinaga Mohawk Police, reports a man came to the police station Monday morning in connection with another man -- Charles Kloetstra -- being arrested earlier the same day. During the man's conversation with a police officer at the station, the report said, he "threatened the life of an officer" and, before leaving the area, "displayed a firearm."
The Belleville police service arrested the man at the Belleville court on Victoria Street after hearing a police broadcast.
Though the police report did not identify the man, Tyendinaga residents who were at the courthouse at the time of the arrest identified the man as Mario Baptiste. Among the residents was Mohawk protester Shawn Brant who said Baptiste was at the court house to attend Kloetstra's 1 p.m. bail hearing.
Brant said the arrest of both men was unnecessary.
"It's the OPP, it's the reserve police.... People have had enough," he said.
Brant said Kloetstra had been arrested earlier this month and was held "for eight days waiting for a bail hearing" before the charges were dropped Friday and he was released from custody. However, due to previous charges, Kloetstra had conditions not to be on the reserve and was arrested by Tyendinaga police early Monday. Brant said he believes the condition not to be on the reserve is questionable. He claims most Mohawk protesters have had similar conditions placed on them but, through an "agreement" with the Crown attorney's office and the Mohawk band council, those conditions have been removed.
"Everyone seems to have forgotten that agreement," Brant said outside the Victoria Street court. "They've arrested him and they bring him in here and it's caused a spiral effect. It's a real travesty what's happened to him."
That "spiral effect" included members of Belleville police service's tactical team attending court to pat down those entering the court room where Kloetstra was scheduled to appear for his bail hearing. Officers also placed Baptiste's wife, Kathy, in handcuffs after she approached police and demanded to know where her husband was.
"I was just pissed off," she said. "I wanted to know where my husband was."
Due to the increased security, only a handful of supporters were in attendance for Kloetstra's bail hearing. However, the situation remained tense as Kloetstra argued with Justice of the Peace Deanna Chapelle about his arrest.
"This is harassment," he said from the prisoner's box. "They just had me incarcerated for eight days for something they couldn't prove. This is a violation of my rights."
Chapelle explained to Kloetstra his appearance was strictly for a bail hearing and asked if he wished to have that hearing or wait until he could speak with his lawyer. Kloetstra said he had spoken with a lawyer but could not recall who it was. He agreed to remain in custody until Tuesday when he will appear for a bail hearing.
Baptiste, who is also now in police custody, is also scheduled for a Tuesday bail hearing in Belleville court.