(rdnewsNOW)

By Sheldon Spackman

Glen Carritt

Charges withdrawn against local convoy organizer

Jan 11, 2023 | 4:36 PM

Charges have been withdrawn against a former Innisfail town councillor and mayoral candidate involved in a “Freedom Convoy” type rally near Red Deer last year.

Charges of assault and interference with property over $5000 were withdrawn against Glen Daniel Carritt, 57, during his trial in Red Deer provincial court on Jan. 10, 2023.

“For the Crown to proceed with charges, the Crown has to be satisfied that a reasonable likelihood of conviction exists and that it has to be in the public interest to do so. In the Crown opinion, that test was not satisfied in this case,” explains Jeff Rudiak, Crown Prosecutor.

Carritt was charged in relation to the convoy which travelled from Eckville to Sylvan Lake on Feb. 3, 2022.

According to RCMP, members were monitoring the convoy as it travelled through Sylvan Lake at around 11:30 a.m. that day, when a pick-up truck pulled in front to block the convoy near 50 Street and 50 Avenue.

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Mounties allege the lead participant of the convoy approached the driver of the pick-up and an altercation ensued. Police say the leader was attempting to obtain the keys out of the ignition of the blocking vehicle, but no one was seriously hurt.

Carritt led a convoy to Ottawa in 2019 called ‘United We Roll’.

RCMP say that additional provincial charges were also laid, including one for failing to yield to a pedestrian under the Rules of the Road Regulation, against the driver of the vehicle which blocked the convoy.

That person’s name was not released, say police, as the charges were not criminal in nature.

Related: Trial date set for local “Freedom Convoy” organizer