First witness up today is a automotive service technician— he examined the two vehicles involved in the attack. He inspects brakes, suspension, tires, lights and inside the drivers controls.
Mechanic finds both Chevy & uhaul van were operable & road worthy prior to the collisions.
Next witness is a young woman who was buying wine at the crown liquor store.
When she left the liquor store she saw Const. Chernyk laying on the ground.
Witness says she was about 25-30 feet away from the officer.
Next thing she saw— two people walking their dogs— they ran to see if the officer was ok. She was standing there, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Witness tearing up now: “I remember the driver got out of the white car and he walked around behind his vehicle.. walked up to the police officer and stabbed him. He stabbed him. I remember seeing him stabbing twice. I turned around and ran back into the liquor store.”
Wiping away tears she describes how the accused was moving towards the officer. “ I remember seeing him not really run. I remember him striding towards him. Came up to the officers feet. That’s when he bent down and started stabbing him.”
Crown asks what was going through your head? Witness replied “ I thought he accidental hit the officer. When he was walking up I thought he was going to see if he was OK.”
Crown: What was emotional state of the driver? Witness says “he was pretty calm wasn’t freaking out. He was really focused on the police officer on the ground.” She doesn’t remember the driver saying anything.
Next witness, young woman who was walking her dogs with her bf: “We heard a vehicle rev— there was a police officer standing behind barricade— the police officer flew ten feet in the air.
”Me and my boyfriend ran over— ready to call 911– I was bent down to help the police officer, my bf was going to help the person in the car...
Then all of a sudden, my bf yells he has a knife! Run run run.
And then I ran behind a truck and watched this attack happen.”
Crown asks witness: “What was going through your mind?”
Witness: “That we are going to have to help him because I he can’t die there.”
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Monday: RCMP tells me there are NO investigations into the violence that cancelled an anti-racism rally in Red Deer.
Tuesday: after our story goes viral, RCMP launches an investigation.
RCMP said they were not expecting this kind of violence even though there were online threats against protesters made days before. The violence came as no surprise to the racialized community who have been out protesting anti-racism for weeks in central Alberta.
Some background: 2 weeks ago an anti-racism protester was attacked by a truck in Ponoka. The group held a news conference to discuss the hit & run but it was crashed by people with known connections to hate groups. RCMP were there. My story:
The city wants these campers near Whyte Ave out by by 10 AM this morning. While they are nervous about losing their temporary homes, they aren’t going anywhere. #yeg
Organizers tell me city officials brought in these garbage bins yesterday. Campers chained the bins together in hopes of blocking police from entering this one alley. #yeg
Campers have created a barricade around the main entrance into the camp using lime scooters. #yeg
Edmonton police is holding a media show-and-tell of it’s new police equipment, including this new
Armoured vehicle. While the vehicle was budgeted and ordered in 2017 (costing $500K) it comes during a time of public concern regarding the militarization of police. #yeg
In addition to the “Black Wolf” EPS has purchased drones, a new Mobile Action Centre & carbine rifles. Police say “everything here has a purpose. We have picked the stuff that will truly benefit us.” #yeg
EPS’ new Mobile Action Centre truck comes at a cost of $370K. It will replace a 20 year old an existing unit. #yeg
At noon will we will get an update on what happened last Thursday during an anti-racism rally in Ponoka. RCMP are investigating after an anti-racism demonstrator was hit by a truck during the rally. My story from last week: google.ca/amp/s/edmonton…
Organizers from Black & Indigenous Alliance (who are organizing the press conference) have not arrived yet—- however there are already “counter-protesters” here.
Counter-protesters are trying to interrupt a press conference organized by Black & Indigenous Alliance.
I’m in court in this morning where Deng Mabiour, the man accused of killing a family doctor at a medical clinic, is expected to make a court appearance (via video). google.ca/amp/s/edmonton…
Mabiour makes a court app via video from the remand centre. He’s in a blue jumpsuit. Wearing a mask & handcuffed. He complains about standing up— and takes a sit on the floor. When the judge asked him if he received a copy of the charges against him, he says “I don’t know”.
When asked if he understand the charges he says he “killed his family doctor for a good reason” . He keeps asking for a chance to tell his side why he killed his family doctor. He says he does not want a lawyer.
Flowers, cards laid to rest in front of this Red Deer walk-in clinic after a doctor was killed yesterday during a horrific attack. RCMP will be speaking to media at 12 PM.
A former colleague puts down a frame photo of Dr. Reynolds. “His children was his life.”
“He was the most kind, loving person ever. He was a jokester. He was just very very kind.”