LIVE UPDATES: Day two in court for Alberta cafe owner Chris Scott over alleged breach of COVID-19 restrictions
The owner of the Whistle Stop Café in Mirror, Alberta refused to kowtow to authorities during COVID-19 and is now facing up against the wrath of law enforcement.
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:
Chris Scott's legal team is wisely asking him not to do an interview with me during trial.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
But we will be hearing from Chad Williamson in the next few days,so stay tuned for that.
They're just going through some evidentiary business and then they are picking new dates for the continuation of the cross-examination of the AHS Inspector which will be at least 4 weeks from now because that's how long it's going to take to produce those emails.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
The average age of those deaths was 78.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
How many people there at the Whistlestop appeared to be over the age of 78?
I don't recall any.
But you sure spent a lot of time in Lacombe County attending the Whistlestop?
Yes
"the total deaths in Lacombe county related to the pandemic were 14. "
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
correct
"total cases were 2672"
correct
Were you aware that Chris Scott had a lawyer assisting on covid matters?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Yes
(that lawyer was excluded from being informed about the Rooke order)
Were those extemporaneous notes or records taken during those meetings about Chris Scott provided to police?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
No
Did you provide those to the crown?
no
Who was in those discussions pertaining to the Whistlestop? Dave Brown?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Yes
Who else?
Zaheen Nanji, Quentin Schatz.
Who was in those meetings? We need the names?
Crown objects. Says AHS lawyers may need to be involved now. Should wait on records to be sure
" The reason you did not turn those records over is that you don't want what's in those communications to be disclosed? "
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
"no"
And the witness is coming back in
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Williamson is asking for the emails between AHS and the cops beyond the emails between AHS and AHS about Chris Scott.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
"the issue is that we want to know if the witness communicated with the police that he had other records beyond what he had previously disclosed."
"there were emails between you and your colleagues about Mr Scott and you did not turn those records over?"
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke is confused.
"how did you provide information to the police?"
"by email"
"and those emails are not provided?"
And Plischke is being made to step out again
(oh boy, I think now the defence wants the police emails with the AHS inspector about the records that he failed to disclose but was just ordered to turn over)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Williamson is trying this line of questioning again.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
"you turned over some documents about the whistlestop? But then you exchanged emails with your colleagues about Mr. Scott and did not turn those over to the police or the crown?"
"I may have emailed the police about them."
Williamson: at no time in the last two years, did you bother to disclose the records that you were ordered to produce yesterday...
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Crown objects.
Legal grumbling has ensued.
Willaimson: as an AHS inspector, were you aware of covid cases that came from illegal gatherings?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke: no
Williamson: no documents that you generated for this case indicate that the reasons for your constant visits to the Whistlestop were due to an actual case of covid?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke: no. But someone may have called us to complain about it.
Williamson: But no proof?
Plischke: no
Williamson is now asking about all the other places
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke inspected. Pharmacies, sporting goods stores, car dealerships. etc.
Plischke testifies that he visited the Whistlestop more than any other place during the months in question (January to April 2021)
Williamson: how many inspections during January and April 2021 did you perform in cannabis or alcohol stores?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke: I was in one cannabis store, one alcohol store.
Williamson: same time frame, how many clothing stores?
Plischke: one
Williamson: how many inspections of long-term care facilities did you perform in 2021?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke: I don't know
Williamson: lets ballpark it, more than 12?
Plischke: no. It could be close to 10
Plischke is coming back.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Prior to the start of this witness's testimony, at least 3 AHS employees who may end up as witnesses were asked to leave the courtroom.
Plischke is asked to leave the stand while lawyers are sorting things re: Williamson's line of questioning.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
"we are alleging as a product of the actions of this witness, and the RCMP acting under the direction of his organization, that Mr. Scott suffered punitive consequences."
Williamson is reading back the sanctions that were levied against Scott based on the reports filed by Plischke and used by AHS to seek an ex-parte order.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke looks very uncomfortable.
Williamson: did you have any awareness about June 1 order of contempt against Chris Scott?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke: I don't read news
Williamson: you don't read it on your cell phone?
Plischke: sometimes
Plischke says he doesn't recall any of the media exposure surrounding the Rooke order
Williamson is asking about May 6 ex-parte order of Justice Rooke, which banned protests
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Williamson: are you aware AHS relied on your reports in seeking order against Scott
Plischke: No
"Before May 6, you had no discussions about forthcoming civil proceedings?"
"Don't recall"
Turning to RCMP as bodyguards for AHS
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Williamson: were any AHS inspectors ever physically assaulted during the pandemic?
Plischke: I don't know
Williamson: do you have any personal knowledge that there were any assaults on AHS inspectors?
Plischke: I have no knowledge of any
Williamson: did Mr. Scott tell you he thought the covid mandates were unlawful?
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Plischke: yes
Williamson: unconstitutional?
Plischke: Yes.
Williamson: that he was protesting the order?
Plischke: yes
Chad Williamson is resuming his cross of Plischke. I think this might get rough.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Back in court. AHS Inspector Ian Plischke is back on the stand. His testimony yesterday was suspended after it was discovered that AHS emails that touched on Chris Scott were not turned over during disclosure. Those emails will not be available today. AHS lawyers need time..
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
These are all the witnesses. But we have to deal with the AHS email issue.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
that makes 4 - every single cop testifying so far - said that AHS was directing police to crack down on Chris Scott.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Crown is done with this cop, who noted that Rebel News was on scene at the Whistlestop when he was there.
No questions from the defence.
Cst Peters says he also went to check on the Noble Fox in Bashaw also because Carlos there was also serving customers. https://t.co/Bkuc0zQ6mm
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
I like the honesty of this cop.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
About Scott, he says that one day there wasn't much happening when he went by the Whistlestop because Scott "was experiencing a food shortage because he had such overwhelming support from the public"
Cst Peters volunteers that he was asked by his Sgt. Bruce Holliday to monitor the Whistlestop and that Holliday had been asked by AHS to direct members to surveil Whistlestop Cafe.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Peters says AHS used Sgt Holliday as the "liaison to report back to AHS."
ok next up is a fourth cop. Cst Devin Peters of the Bashaw RCMP detachment. No doubt he will testify, like the three before him, that Chris Scott was polite and courteous with him at all times.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
And cross is done.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Cst Witmer testifies that he was never told that there was ever a covid outbreak associated with the Whistlestop, despite many protests and the restaurant packed all the time.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
(all these resources were spent to stop a man from doing business with willing customers, and yet, when the Whistlestop was robbed, according to Chris Scott, the local detachment didn't have the resources to come out to lift a full palm print off his front window.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Priorities)
Witmer testified that his notes reflect "several people in the diner not wearing masks" but he did not inquire if any of those people had exemptions.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Yoav Niv for Chris Scott begins cross-examination of Cst Witmer.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
"Would it be fair to say that AHS was directing the RCMP?"
"I received direction from my Sgt. He did so in consultation with AHS"
All 3 cops have testified it was AHS in charge of the crackdown on Whistlestop.
Cst Witmer testifies, like the two other cops before him, that business continued to boom at the Whistlestop as Scott resisted the closure notices.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
"customers were lined up out the door of the gas station waiting to get a table"
(The strength of this ordinary guy. Govt nearly financially ruined him with lockdowns. So he reopened. Then govt issued fines, summonses and closure orders, they seized his property, tried to silence him, took his liberty and compelled his speech. And for what? serving burgers)
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Scott was banned from peacefully protesting the seizure of his property and mandates after AHS got an ex-parte order against him. When he protested anyway, he spent 3 days in jail and issued a compelled speech restriction, which was eventually overturned. https://t.co/UJPaCke0Uy
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Witmer testifies that he gave no patrons at the Whistlestop Cafe tickets for not wearing masks, which was also a requirement at the time.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
All three officers so far have testified to his cooperation of Scott with law enforcement before his civil disobedience. He helped with suspicious vehicle/persons and other investigations and reached out proactively to make sure any events he held were in compliance.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Ah yes, as predicted, Cst Witmer is testifying that Scott was calm and polite with him at all times. When Witmer reminded Scott that he may end up in legal trouble if he remained open, Scott said he understood, but he had no intention of closing. He was protesting mandates.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Those emails will not be produced today. AHS has advised the crown they archive emails after 6 months. Further, AHS lawyers now want to conduct a review of the emails before disclosure to make sure nothing is covered under solicitor/client privilege. That review may take 4 weeks
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Side note update: yesterday, AHS inspector Plischke testified to internal emails about the enforcement of mandates on the Whistlestop. Those emails had not been turned over in disclosure. Scott's lawyer Chad Williamson demanded those emails. Judge gave 24 hours to produce. BUT..
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Today, Cst Witmer, formerly of the Bashaw detachment - now in Stettler- will testify to what he saw at the Whistlestop Cafe between January and April 2021. Guessing he will testify to the polite interactions he had with Scott, like all the cops before him.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
The property was seized in an early morning raid last May. Court heard testimony from AHS inspector Ian Plischke that he was the one who put the chains on the doors. https://t.co/GlEnAJs6KD
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Chris Scott has had his legal fees covered through your generous, tax-deductible donations to https://t.co/MlgJ5QtnlR. He owns the only convenience store/gas station in Mirror, AB, pop. 500. Alberta Health Services chained the doors up last May when he wouldn't close the diner.
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
Back in court this am for the 2nd day of what was scheduled as a two-day trial (it will be continued today, I am sure) for Chris Scott, the small-town Alberta diner owner who re-opened in defiance of the lockdowns and subsequently had his property seized and spent 3 days in jail
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) August 31, 2022
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