A Tyendinaga Territory man who was a no-show for his scheduled assault trial says he didn't go to court because he has "diplomatic immunity" in Canada.
Justice Stephen Hunter issued an arrest warrant for Mario Baptiste early Friday after the 52-year-old Mohawk territory man failed to show up for his trial. Baptiste has been charged with assaulting a police officer, uttering threats, weapons possession and provoking a state of fear in relation to an incident at the Tyendinaga Territory police station on March 1.
Baptiste is charged with offences at the police station in which police say he walked into the station, issued threats to officers and, upon leaving, brandished a weapon before getting into his vehicle and driving off.
Assistant Crown attorney Mike Lunski told Hunter Friday he knew Baptiste was aware of the trial date as Baptiste had been contacted by phone Thursday informing him he could pick up the Crown evidence disclosure package. Lunski said there was some confusion over Baptiste's intentions to attend the trial Friday.
Hunter recessed court for 10 minutes indicating he wanted an attempt made to contact Baptiste to determine whether or not he was planning to attend the trial.
"I'd prefer some effort be made to see if Mr. Baptiste is coming today," Hunter said before calling for the break.
Though a phone message was left at Baptiste's home during the break, no response was received and Hunter concurred with Lunski's request that an arrest warrant be issued.
Reached at home an hour later by The Intelligencer, Baptiste said he did not want to attend Friday's trial because, he claimed, he was "savagely attacked" by a Belleville police officer following his last court appearance. He said the officer attacked him in the court gallery and pulled his shoulder out of place and injured his lower back.
"I've got diplomatic immunity in this country. That's what my treaties say," Baptiste said. "They created such a state of fear in this community they'll be lucky if an Indian ever goes to court. When you're attacked like that in a court room something's not right."
Baptiste had made earlier appearances in relation to the March 1 incident, but said he told the court, in the past, he would appear only out of "respect," not because he was ordered to.
In relation to the arrest warrant, Baptiste said issuing it was the court's decision, but it will have little effect on him.
"If you attack a sovereign ally, you better be f---ing ready," he said. "I'm not a f---ing subject, I'm a God damn ally. I haven't forgotten my treaties and I'm not dead yet. First you deal with the horse and then you deal with the cart and this God damn horse has teeth."