Two charges withdrawn against people involved with Ambassador Bridge blockade

Two people have had their charges withdrawn following the Ambassador Bridge blockade last year that shut down North America's busiest land border crossing.

Eric Lemmon is one of the two people who are no longer facing a charge of mischief and breach of a court order, according to The Democracy Fund, a charity that defends peoples' constitutional rights. 

Litigation Director Alan Honner said he believes Lemmon's charges were withdrawn Aug. 1 because of a video they submitted showing his client was on the sidewalk at the time, not blocking the roadway.

"The fact that they arrested people on a sidewalk isn't right, but it doesn't surprise me. You see police arrest people all the time for things people shouldn't be arrested for," said Honner. "You can't obstruct traffic if you're on the sidewalk."

The Ministry of the Attorney General has not responded to CBC's request for comment on the reasons the charges were withdrawn before the time of publication.

On February 7, 2022, truckers and other people protesting COVID-19 measures arrived at the main entrance and exit of the Ambassador Bridge. They blocked traffic in both directions even after a court injunction was issued instructing protesters to clear out and the feds invoked the Emergencies Act with the same goal.

It wasn't until February 13 that a large number of officers from across Canada walked in a massive line along the road, clearing out protestors along the way.

Windsor police previously said at least 46 people faced 90 charges following the Ambassador Bridge blockade.

Richard Moon, a University of Windsor law professor who specializes in constitutional issues, said the blockade makes him think back to the G20 protests in 2010. More than 1,100 people were arrested and reports afterwards slammed police for excessive use of force.

"Certainly there's no question at some protests, at G20 protests in particular, there was significant overcharging. I certainly have no reason to think that that occurred in the recent convoy protests," said Moon. 

However, when it happens during a protest he said it raises "constitutional concerns."

"Concerns about freedom of expression and the right to assembly, both of which are protected under our charter of rights," said Moon.

The Windsor Police Service has not responded to CBC's request for comment.

Five months later, in July of 2022, Windsor police arrested two people they say were leaders of the Ambassador Bridge blockade in Windsor.