March 17, 2011
Hamilton Spectator
CALEDONIA Ontario Provincial Police critic Gary McHale says he’s the victim of a “trumped-up charge” by the force to keep him out of Caledonia and believes there is “no chance of them getting a conviction.”
McHale was arrested and charged with assault Thursday at noon by the OPP while he was walking out of the Cayuga courthouse on an unrelated matter. The charge stems from a Feb. 27 demonstration he organized which developed into a faceoff between his 25 supporters and 200 opponents beside Douglas Creek Estates.
He is to appear in court April 5. McHale says he has been ordered to stay away from Douglas Creek Estates, the scene of the five-year native occupation, and the Caledonia Lions Hall, where he has staged rallies denouncing the way OPP have policed the land claims dispute.
Police will not elaborate on the details, but McHale said the complainant is a CUPE representative. McHale was previously charged in connection with a December 2007 rally, but the charge was eventually dropped by the Crown. McHale said he’s not surprised by the latest charge and is looking forward to receiving the Crown documents, e-mails and videos.
“This is all meant, once again, to get travel restrictions on me,” he said. “They don’t want me to be part of rallies. The OPP want something to get us on.”
OPP Sergeant Dave Rektor said McHale can say what he likes about the charge. “Everybody has a right to freedom of speech,” he said.