Native towing corporations are rejecting Ottawa police requests for assist towing ‘Freedom Convoy’ vans out of the downtown core, in line with a senior police supply.
The supply advised CTV Information Ottawa that even when police determined to tow the vans from the downtown streets they've been clogging up for the previous week, they wouldn’t have sufficient tow vans to do it.
Police outreach to tow truck corporations throughout town has been rebuffed, the supply mentioned.
The supply mentioned police are contemplating launching a felony investigation into whether or not intimidation of the tow truck corporations is resulting in their lack of cooperation with police.
Police would solely have entry to city-owned tow vans used for OC Transpo buses, of which there are a restricted quantity.
Requested concerning the concern on Friday, Mayor Jim Watson mentioned that data had not been delivered to him, however the metropolis has its personal fleet of tow vans.
“All contingency plans are being labored on,” he advised CTV Information on Friday. “Town has quite a few heavy industrial tow vans as properly, so there’s that availability, plus different corporations that town offers with on a fairly common foundation.”
Ottawa Police Deputy Chief Steve Bell mentioned Friday there are between 200 and 250 vans parked within the downtown core.
Police count on one other 300 to 400 truck drivers to strive making their method downtown this weekend, however they're establishing roadblocks and planning to direct the truckers to parking spots outdoors the core.
Till now, the police technique with the remaining truckers was primarily one in every of negotiation. That succeeded in decreasing their numbers all through the week.
Friday morning, police mentioned they're adopting a “surge and comprise technique,” which incorporates sending 150 extra officers to affected neighbourhoods and barricading the protest “pink zone” to chop off individuals who need to drive downtown.
A bike owner stops in entrance of vans blocked on Metcalfe Avenue as a rally in opposition to COVID-19 restrictions, which started as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers, continues in Ottawa, on Friday, February 4, 2022. (Patrick Doyle/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
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