MPP Randy Hillier facing 9 more charges after Ottawa convoy protest

[Spazito]

An eastern Ontario provincial politician has surrendered to police and is facing more charges, this time related to the convoy protest and occupation in downtown Ottawa this winter.

Ottawa police announced nine charges against Independent Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP Randy Hillier in a Monday morning news release, saying they had complaints "about social media posts and other activities of an individual" during the so-called Freedom Convoy.

The charges are:

One count of assaulting a peace or public officer.
Two counts of obstructing or resisting a public officer.
One count of obstructing or resisting someone aiding a public or peace officer.
Three counts of counselling an uncommitted indictable offence, two of them considered mischief.
Two counts of mischief or obstructing property exceeding $5,000.

There were calls for Hillier's arrest in February when he tweeted people should "keep calling" after Ottawa police tweeted that people had to stop calling "critical emergency and operational phone lines" to express displeasure over police actions to clear streets.

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Earlier this month, Hillier said he's not running for re-election in June in the seat he's held since 2007.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/randy-hillier-arrest-protest-convoy-ottawa-mpp-1.6399669