LIVE UPDATES: Alberta café owner Chris Scott in court over alleged breach of COVID-19 restrictions
Rebel News' Sheila Gunn Reid is in court covering the proceedings and will be providing live updates here.
Here is a previous report from Sheila speaking with Chris about the Whistle Stop Cafe taking a stand against government overreach during COVID-19.
LIVE UPDATES:
Back here tomorrow.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Ok we are adjourned.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
I can make it home for the UCP debate!
Cst Scott testifies he gave no one else a summons for breaching CMOH orders.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
And with that, he's done.
Yoav Niv is cross examining the Cst Scott:
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Chris Scott was vocally protesting the restrictions?
Yes.
He was polite and respectful
Yes.
You knew he was engaging in civil disobedience?
Yes.
Crown is done. Very few Qs for the cop. Just an historic detailing of his interactions with Chris Scott between January and April 2021.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Cst Scott testifies to the politeness and respectfulness of Chris Scott.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Speaks of the many times he visited the diner to surveil for indoor food service, mask compliance. Recounts the time he served Chris Scott a court summons to appear for contravening the lockdown orders.
Back in court for Chris Scott of the Whistlestop Diner in Red Deer. He reopened his diner against lockdown restrictions.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Things are about to get confusing.
The next cop up on the stand also has the last name Scott. Cst Ryan Scott.
Ok Plischke is back on the stand. Crown is quizzing him on the communications he may have in his possession. Can he produce them in a timely manner? Let's find out.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
"That's a big ask," Plischke says.
Plischke agrees, and he has to produce those records by tomorrow afternoon
Yoav Niv, co-counsel for Scott is speaking now. Says the AHS communications not in their possession are now relevant for a Charter challenge.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Crown is saying it might be too much to ask for everything.
Judge is considering what to do.
The crown doesn't have the emails either.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Williamson: We want everything. Text messages, emails, slack, memos, everything.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Williamson: the witness Plischke just testified to internal emails and communications about Chris Scott relating to the planning of enforcement against him.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
We don't have those, they were not turned over, and we want disclosure. Everything from Dec 1 1 to April 30, 2021.
Williamson asks the witness to leave the room.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke can't say if he inspected more or fewer than 12 restaurants in 2021 that were not the Whistlestop.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
So maybe one per month and one inspection of a big box store so far.
Shows how insane the govt focus was on Chris Scott in the town of 500 souls.
(fascinating. The govt contends it had to restrict a man's right to protest, seize his property, kill his ability to earn a living, all in the name of public health.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
But AHS inspectors ignored other violations right in front of them?
So which is it?
Looks very targeted.)
Williamson: you were never under threat by Chris Scott, tho?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke: it was based on Facebook posts and anti-government rhetoric.
Williamson: which Facebook posts were you reading?
Plischke: They were replies.
Williamson: not written by Chris.
Plischke: no
Williamson: there were hundreds of other people at these protests (at Whistlestop events). Your focus is public health. Why didn't you charge them?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke: we try to educate.
Williamson: but you only went after Chris.
Plischke: we are unbiased.
(Crowd scoffs)
Williamson: you saw people at events with no masks so why didn't you charge them for that?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke: I didn't see the purpose.
Williamson: you took no action, didn't ascertain if they had exemptions
Plischke: I guess at some point common sense....we try to aducate.
(Oh?)
Plischke is being grilled by Williamson. "primarily, your focus was on the Whistlestop, though you were getting complaints about other businesses? "
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
"yes it was a large focus"
Williamson: did you receive complaints and do inspections about weddings, funerals, private events, open mic nights?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke: we would hear about them, try to find out who was involved and then have a discussion.
Williamson notes no one else was charged the way Chris was.
Williamson: you don't recall if anyone gave you instructions (to go to the Whistlestop)?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke: we did it in consultation. We got complaints.
Williamson: who makes the decision, someone has to make the decision?
Plischke: we did it in discussions.
Williamson: How many inspections in total did you do in 2021? Was it 100, more than 50?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plishcke: not sure.
Williamson: Did you perform any inspections at big box stores in 2021?
Plischke: I was at home depot once and then a phone follow up.
Williamson: Scott told you he was against the covid restrictions, and that was why he re-opened? That he was in civil disobedience of the CMOH orders? That he was talking about freedoms and rights?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke: yes.
Williamson: Scott was respectful and peaceful?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke: Yes.
Williamson: Chris never gave you reason to fear for your safety?
Plischke: No
(so why did Plischke keep bringing the cops?)
Williamson makes Plischke agree that Scott was protesting the restrictions by re-opening his business.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke agrees.
Crown objects.
Williamson withdraws, will save it for charter portion of trial.
I guess all that divisive political rhetoric the Liberals barf into the societal discourse only seems to take hold in the minds of city people. https://t.co/rlC7EvoEW9
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Williamson is making AHS inspector Plischke read through CMOH orders applicable at the time, asking if each one allowed for political protest. They did not, though a subsequent one was found to allow for protest to protect charter rights.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
The implication is they all should have
(I should note, the people of Mirror seem to like Staff Sgt Bruce Holliday, even though he was the cop on the scofflaw diner beat. He has since been transferred to Stettler, but people told him during a quick break, "we need you back in Bashaw." No animosity. It's nice to see.)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
(I can't even fathom the amount of resources being spent to persecute a man for trying to save his business from government-ordered destruction by way of unscientific edicts. At any moment, govt could call this off. But no, it persists in the process, which is the punishment)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
The crown is complaining to the judge about someone in the gallery talking or "answering questions."
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
I am in the gallery, and this place is a large broom closet, and I haven't heard anything.
Judge says he didn't hear anything either but issues a no-talking reminder anyway.
Crown is done with Plischke.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Chad Williamson is beginning his cross-examination.
(his sideburns are looking particularly sharp so I know he means business)
Rebel News has covered the Whistle Stop Cafe since January 2021 after the govt closed restaurant dining rooms in the middle of December, 2020. To support Chris Scott, we hired a lawyer to represent him through our crowdfunded Fight The Fines project. https://t.co/ZYM7dBVhk9
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
oh wowowow.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke was there in the early morning raid when the Whistlestop was chained up. He says he put the chain on himself.
for reference: https://t.co/GlEnAJ9Xwv
Crown: Did you ask police to issue a violation for making food on April 30, 2021?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG pause.
Plischke: I would have to consult our executive officer orders at the time.
Plischke testifies that his director suspended health permits for Chris Scott to operate in April 2021 (not for unsanitary, dangerous conditions but because Scott refused to close to meet arbitrary covid violations in the town of Mirror, Alberta, population 500 on a good day.)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
( I was there in Mirror when Plischke visited many times, including the day of the arrest)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke was on-site when Scott was arrested in May for protesting the govt seizure of his biz, though Plischke describes it as "entertainment, a BBQ and people not happy with restrictions".
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Scott's diner, gas station, c-store and for some reason campground were chained up.
(I can't even fathom the amount of resources being spent to persecute a man for trying to save his business from government-ordered destruction by way of unscientific edits. At any moment, the govt could call this off. But no, it persists in the process, which is the punishment)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke is now going through, in meticulously boring detail, the minutiae of his many, many, many, many visits to the Whistlestop after Chris Scott re-opened his dining room in contravention of unscientific covid regulations.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
He taped notices to the door with tape ...
AHS inspector Ian Plischke testifies he brought Staff Sgt Holliday with him to inspect the Whistlestop, which was not normal practice but was what inspectors do in the rare instance of a threat to their safety
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
However, Holliday repeatedly testified that Scott was peaceful/calm
Plischke is testifying he is an executive officer, meaning he has been given powers to execute orders of the chief medical officer of health (CMOH) like orders to close restaurants, etc.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Up next on the stand: AHS inspector Ian Plischke.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
When Scott was arrested after holding that May protest against the seizure of his property, he was held for 3 days in Red Deer cells.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
We are hearing that Chris Scott was not given access to a shower, he was allowed to change clothing only once, had no access toothbrush.
Oh.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Niv is asking about takeout orders the Bashaw RCMP detachment may have placed with the Whistlestop.
Staff Sgt Holliday says he doesn't have information on that.
Sgt Holliday testifies that Scott was polite, respectful and even apologetic for wasting Holliday's time (when he could be doing other things to fight real crimes).
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
"I would never have gone to the Whistlestop to lay charges without the direction of AHS".
Crown is done. Niv is cross-examining Staff Sgt Holliday now.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Staff Sgt Holliday testified that Chris Scott's social media was being monitored by AHS, agrees that Scott was a vocal opponent of the political aspect of COVID restrictions, that Scott is not a COVID denier/anti vax
Sgt Holliday is the cop who arrested Chris Scott on the Rooke order that restricted Scott's right to protest in May 2021. https://t.co/rNGozfL03t
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Staff Sgt Bruce Holliday attended with at least 3 different AHS inspectors. Quentin Schatz, Ian Plischke, and one more.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Staff Sgt Bruce Holliday notes how the diner was busier and busier each time he visited.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Holliday notes the number of times he tried to convince Chris Scott to comply with the covid restrictions that closed the Whistlestop to in-person dining before the February 3 visit where charges were laid under the public health act and a notice to appear was issued to Scott.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Staff Sgt Holliday on Scott's demeanor upon his first visit with AHS:
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
"as usual, Chris was friendly and when we spoke, he was polite in the interaction. His voice was normal and wasn't raised.
He had told Plischke he was aware of the orders but he was going to serve customers"
Staff Sgt Bruce Holliday says his previous interactions with Scott had been polite. They had spoken prior about compliance re: events Scott wanted to hold
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
BTW: Bruce does good work when the government and AHS aren't having him harass local diner owners.https://t.co/9RYQIv87N8
Bruce is testifying that AHS inspector Ian Plischke asked for his help in attending at the Whistlestop in January 2021.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Plischke is the same AHS inspector-covid stickler that closed the Whistlestop drive-in movie nights in April 2020. https://t.co/zGuJM6bvt4
(It is Bruce. He's been working out! He has been reposted to Stettler from the Bashaw detachment)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Peter Mackenzie is the crown prosecutor on the file.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
I am informed by Scott's lawyer Chad Williamson that the Scott legal team plans to examine the daylights out of AHS today. Tomorrow, they expect to be able to examine the police.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
(I hope it's Bruce from the Bashaw detachment. He was the local covid cop on the diner beat)
On my way in, there were about 20 people/supporters of Scott outside the courthouse and another 20 people inside this tiny courtroom. I see two other journalists, including one surprisingly pleasant chap who identified himself as with CTV. People are collegial with him, FYI.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
There is also a charter challenge concurrent with the trial.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
Scott is represented by Chad Williamson and Yoav Niv from Williamson Law through your generous crowdfunding donations to https://t.co/MlgJ5QsPwj.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
We are expecting a two-day trial on 11 separate counts relating to Scott's lockdown resistance between January and April 2021.
In court this morning in Red Deer for the trial of Chris Scott, the owner of the Whistlestop Cafe in Mirror, Alberta, who refused to close his restaurant to comply with covid mandates. He was fined, had his property seized, banned from protesting and was jailed for 3 days.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 30, 2022
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