Roy Cardinal and several others defy police instructions to vacate a homeless encampment in Edmonton on January 10, 2024. (Photo credit: Chris Konkle)
In a development unfolding at a central Edmonton homeless encampment, three individuals were apprehended on Wednesday following the refusal of some camp residents to comply with eviction orders issued the day before. Edmonton Police took one male and two females into custody on charges of "obstructing police," with pending charges awaiting formalization.
The encampment, situated on vacant land along Rowland Road and 95 Street, became the focus of law enforcement efforts around noon, as officers cordoned off the area with yellow tape. CTV News Edmonton captured footage of officers engaging with camp residents, including a tense exchange with a resident named Roy Cardinal, who vocally expressed his intention to stand his ground.
Amidst discussions, police officers issued an ultimatum to Cardinal and others, emphasizing the options of peaceful departure or forcible removal. Despite the warnings, several individuals, including Cardinal, were led away in handcuffs, while others were confined behind police tape.
Cardinal, a camp resident, decried the eviction, vowing to resist as long as he saw no justifiable reason to vacate the premises. In a confrontation with a police officer, he asserted, "I'm making my stand! What are we doing? We're standing up for our rights!"
On Wednesday morning, a group of approximately two dozen people convened at the Edmonton Police Service headquarters to protest the encampment's removal. Judith Gale, representing the Bear Claw advocacy group for vulnerable individuals, criticized societal negligence for leaving the mentally ill on the streets.
Concurrently, a judge extended a court injunction, allowing the city to proceed with camp removal under specific conditions until the following Tuesday. The Rowland Road encampment, categorized as high risk, is one of eight such sites targeted by authorities; the remaining seven had already been cleared.
Arlen Plashka, a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation residing in the camp, contested the characterization of the site as high risk, citing a lack of violence or theft. Expressing his intent to set up a teepee on the legislature grounds, Plashka argued that the camp's removal violated his treaty rights.
Following the arrests, workers in protective suits were observed loading the camp's contents into City of Edmonton trucks. An additional arrest had occurred on Tuesday near the camp, involving an individual accused of assaulting a police officer. Charges in that case are pending, with the incident featuring the activation, but non-use, of a stun gun.
In summary, a central Edmonton homeless encampment faced police intervention as three individuals were arrested for obstructing police. The encampment's removal sparked protests, with a court injunction extending eviction powers until the next Tuesday. The encampment, labelled high risk, drew criticism for its eviction from residents, including plans for further protests and legal challenges.
