Video shows RCMP arresting David Menzies of Rebel News for ‘assault’
Clip source: Video shows RCMP arresting David Menzies of Rebel News for assault
RCMP arrest David Menzies of Rebel News for ‘assault’ after he questions Chrystia Freeland
David Menzies was grabbed by an RCMP officer and told he was under arrest — with video of the incident sparking outrage before he was released without charge
Published Jan 09, 2024
Video recorded by a Rebel News videographer shows a man in a suit, tie, and dark coat seeming to create a collision with Menzies that sparked the arrest. Photo by Rebel News
A Rebel News commentator questioning Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland about the government’s terrorism response was stopped and arrested by her RCMP security detail Monday — with video of the incident sparking outrage before he was released without charge.
David Menzies was grabbed by an RCMP officer and told he was under arrest for assault as he was asking the minister questions outside of a vigil in Richmond Hill, just north of Toronto, to mark four years since Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down Flight PS752, killing 176 people, many of them Canadian.
“The arrest of the Rebel News reporter was made by the Prime Minister’s RCMP security detail. York Regional Police officers assisted as the interaction took place in our region,” said Constable Lisa Moskaluk, a media relations officer with York police.
No credible security threat existed
“It was determined that no credible security threat existed and the subject was released unconditionally shortly thereafter.”
Menzies’ release without charge hasn’t muted expressions of outrage over the incident, recorded by a Rebel News videographer in a video which shows a man in a suit, tie, and dark coat seeming to create a collision with Menzies that sparked the arrest.
Menzies is seen on the video approaching Freeland outside as she walks towards the event’s entrance. She doesn’t stop to talk. Menzies asks two questions as he matches her pace.
Tilting his microphone back and forth between them as they walk to capture his questions and her responses that don’t come, Menzies almost walks into a column, behind which a man in a long dark coat stands, with his right shoulder seeming to poke out into the walkway.
Menzies collides with the man’s right shoulder and the man immediately reaches out to corral Menzies as Freeland then dekes around in the other direction.
The man grabs Menzies by his coat lapels and shoves him against a wall as other men swarm in and Freeland, and a woman walking with her, keep walking.
“You’re under arrest for assault,” the man says, according to the video. He then grabs Menzies’ arm that holds his microphone and twists it down. “You’re under arrest for assault,” the officer adds.
“Why am I under arrest, you bumped into me,” Menzies asks.
“You pushed into me,” the officer replies. Menzies asks him his name and badge number but he is not heard answering.
“You’ve been told you’re under arrest,” another unidentified man in a suit says as he reaches out for Menzies.
“Why am I under arrest? He blocked my way,” Menzies tells the second man. The first officer then tells Menzies he is a peace officer and Menzies is under arrest for assaulting a peace officer.
Uniformed members of York police first stand and watch but later are seen handcuffing Menzies and leading him away.
The incident sparked instant alarm and outrage, particularly from conservative commentators and organizations online.
Rebel News widely shared the unsettling event: “SHOCK FOOTAGE: Chrystia Freeland’s bodyguards assault and arrest David Menzies when he asks her a question,” said the main headline on the site.
Rebel News described the incident as a “brutal arrest.”
Ezra Levant, founder and owner of Rebel News, said in the article he was “outraged” by the arrest and asked for financial help.
“The only way to get justice is in court. We’ve got the evidence of the false arrest — and of the police assaulting David. If we don’t stand up for David, this will just keep happening,” Levant said in his story.
“We need to sue Freeland’s out-of-control RCMP bodyguards. They claim they’re police, but they’re acting more like a police state.
“We’re retaining a lawyer to help David fight back.”
BREAKING: Rebel News reporter David Menzies (@TheMenzoid) was brutally arrested by police after he tried to ask Chrystia Freeland questions.
Visit Rebel News for more on this story: https://t.co/J42ReU1MjY pic.twitter.com/5vgNotnjyy
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) January 8, 2024
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Comment
Fascism in Canada Rears its Ugly Head…. AGAIN!
This is totally ridiculous and outrageous! Is Canada now a banana republic? First they freeze peoples bank accounts and credit cards, seize peoples means of livelihood (trucks) and now arrest media on a trumped up charge for asking politicians questions. Fascism and Gestapo tactics is on the rise in Canada, that’s for sure. Scary!
“They hate us for our freedoms.” Ya, right! What they really hate is that their lies are not working anymore.
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