‘Freedom Convoy’ leader says he just wants to go home after spending night in jail

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

‘Freedom Convoy’ leader says he just wants to go home after spending night in jail ‘My organizing days are over,’ Chris Barber said Friday, when he was granted bail. Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia News

Article content “Freedom Convoy” leader Chris Barber says his “organizing days are over” and he just wants to go home to his farm in Swift Current, Sask., after being arrested and jailed on charges of mischief and obstruct police.

Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or ‘Freedom Convoy’ leader says he just wants to go home after spending night in jail Back to video Barber, 46, spent a night in the notorious Ottawa police cell block and was granted bail Friday night on conditions that he leave town within 24 hours and go home and never support the protest again. Barber, who owns a trucking company, agreed with the bail conditions that he can no longer support the protest verbally, on TV or online. Barber, who employs four other truck drivers, put up a $100,000 bond to secure his bail. His conditions require him to live at home until his case winds through the criminal justice system. While he’s forbidden from supporting the protest, he’s allowed to cover the cost of fuel for other truckers to travel back west with him. He made the offer after hearing that crowd-funding money didn’t get into the hands of fellow truckers.

Article content Barber’s trucking company does business in the Prairies and into the United States. Barber is charged with mischief, counselling to commit the offence of disobey court order and counselling to commit the offence of obstruct police. If the case goes to trial, Ottawa’s Crown Attorney Office is expected to seek a prison term of more than two years for “tormenting the city” in a criminal manner and for inciting protesters to break the law. Defence lawyer Diane Magas won bail for Barber. She noted Barber could not possibly be responsible for the actions of others and, in the face of TikTok videos, the defence lawyer questioned if the online videos were filmed before or after the court injunction. Ottawa Crown Attorney Moiz Karimjee said the impact of the protest had been significant and called homicide detective Chris Benson to testify about it.

Article content In the end, the judge concluded that Barber — who doesn’t have a criminal record — posed no substantial threat to the public and granted the convoy leader bail. The judge said she learned nothing from the officer’s testimony that she hadn’t already read in the newspaper. “I don’t know what else I’m supposed to be learning here?” Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois said at the hours-long bail hearing. No publication ban was requested. Barber must check in with Benson by phone as part of his bail conditions, and he is forbidden from communicating with other convoy leaders. According to Barber’s bail conditions, he’s allowed only to return to Ottawa for meetings with his lawyer or for court hearings. He was ordered to not have any contact — outside of legal proceedings — with fellow organizers Tamara Lich, Daniel Bulford or Patrick King.

Share this article in your social network

Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.

Ottawa Citizen Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from Ottawa Citizen, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. Sign Up By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Ottawa Citizen Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again